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)

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SCHOLARS AND IMITATORS.

works show that he possessed sufficient genius to form a style of
his own, which is readily recognised.
Mathew Van Helmont. The approximation of this artist’s
pictures to those of Teniers, is an almost convincing proof that
he was a disciple of that master ; that he was a close and suc-
cessful imitator of his style is clearly evinced by the great rarity
of pictures bearing his own signature, that mark of identification
having long since given place to the more popular and profitable
one of D. Teniers. The subjects which best accorded with
the taste of Van Helmont usually represent boors regaling at
public-house doors, or villagers merry-making; these, how-
ever, have neither the smart penciling of Teniers, nor the same
admirable transparency of colouring. He was born at Brussels,
in 1653, and died in 1719-
De Hondt. That the name of this clever painter has not
yet appeared in any biography, can only be accounted for by
supposing, that, having studied under Teniers, he either conti-
nued to be his assistant, or was a copyist and imitator of his works,
and was contented with the advantages he derived from their sale,
rather than be at the pains to create a reputation for himself.
The Writer has seen two pictures bearing the signature of
this master, representing a “ Village Feast,” and a “ Merry-
making they were painted with much of the spirit and feeling
of Teniers.
Abraham Teniers. He was a brother of David, and is
believed to have been his pupil also. His works bear evidence
that his intentions were to imitate the style and manner of David;
and as his choice of subjects was precisely the same, there can
be little doubt but his pictures, on many occasions, have passed
under the name of his brother, although they are greatly infe-
rior, in every respect, to those of that eminent artist. He was
born at Antwerp in 1619, and died in 1691.
Arnold Van Maas. The name of this painter is inscribed
among the pupils of Teniers, and his biographers commend his
abilities for the close imitation of the style of his instructor, in
the representations of village weddings, and the amusements of