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)

170

ADRIAN VANDER VELDE.

Harvest Field, or The Frozen Canal, his hand gave
beauty and interest to the scene. The same fortunate
result did not accompany his attempts in historical
and poetical subjects : the few pictures that he painted
in this department of the art, show that he was
sensible of his incapacity, and therefore ceased to
pursue it.
Adrian Vander Velde appears to have lived in good
fellowship with most of his contemporary brother
artists, many of whom were indebted to him for the
valuable addition of animals and figures to their
pictures. In this list may be found the names of
Wynants,VanderHeyden, Hobbema,Ruysdael,Frederick
Moucheron, Hackaert, and Abraham Verboom. That
he should have found time to assist so liberally the
artists just enumerated, and also to complete so many
exquisite works, in the short period of about twenty
years (supposing him to have commenced his labours
at thirteen), is utterly incredible, even with all the
ability he evidently possessed. It is, therefore, only
reasonable to suppose, that biographers are in error
relative to either the period of his birth or decease.
The former is stated to have taken place at Amsterdam
in 1639, and the latter in 1672, at the age of thirty-
three years.