Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 3) (London: Smith and Son, 1831)

DAVID TENIERS

THE YOUNGER.

The meagre accounts which exist of the Dutch and
Flemish Artists, render it difficult to prefix more than
a sketch of the lives of those whose works are the
subject of this Catalogue. Indeed, the occupation of
painting, when confined to easel pictures, almost pre-
cludes the possibility of much variety of incident, suf-
ficient to interest by relation. The painter, confined to
his studies, pursues the noiseless tenor of his way; and
the occurrences of one year, generally speaking, are an
epitome of the whole course of his life. That he may
be rich or poor, industrious or indolent, are accidents
that attach to all professions, and only interest when a
moral may be deduced from a man of genius, who, by
persevering industry, raises himself from a lowly condi-
tion to distinction ; or, on the contrary, debases himself,
by indolence and vicious habits, from the rank his talents
would entitle him to hold.
The most satisfactory memoir of an artist, is that
which gives a chronological account of his works—where,
for whom, and under what circumstances they were
painted; for this enables the amateur to observe the