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 5) (London: Smith and Son, 1834)

NICHOLAS BERGHEM.

5

quently contributing the aid of his spirited pencil to
give animation and interest to their works, by the
introduction of cattle and figur es*
He died on the 18th of February, 1683, aged 59,
and was buried in the West Kirk of his native city.

OBSERVATIONS.

The works of but few Painters exhibit more unequi-
vocally the degrees of comparison of good, better,
and best, than those of Berghem. In his known early
productions, the style, colouring, and execution of his
last master, Jan Baptist Weeninx, are so evident, that
such pictures are, with great propriety, designated as
being in his Weeninx manner; and are readily dis-
tinguishable by a predominance of red and yellow
ochre tints, and an uncontrolled or immatured style
of handling, by which the just forms of Nature are
frequently violated. He gradually corrected these
desects, by making Nature alone his model; and,
ultimately, attained a style and manner, combining
the several qualities, which gave such high interest
and value to his works, and place him, both as a land-
* Jacob Ruysdael, Hobbema, Jan Wils, Isaac Moucheron, and
Abraham Verboom, were the principal landscape painters to whom
he occasionally gave his assistance.