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 7) (London: Smith and Son, 1836)

vi

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

so destitute of the necessary qualities of the artist, that
the name only being attached to the engraving has
induced the Writer to insert it; it would, however, be
presumptuous, when describing such prints, to express
an opinion upon any engraved work, in the absence
of the picture itself.
In reference to the sizes given, some little allowance
must be made for trifling errors, most of the pictures
having been measured from the front of the frames ;
and it not unfrequently happens that more of the
picture is hid than is necessary. The measures given
of pictures in foreign galleries are taken from the
catalogues of such collections, and such measures
differ from our own in the following ratio :—a French
foot is k of an inch longer than an English one, a
Dutch foot is equal to 12d English, a Vienna to 121,
and a Leipsic, or Saxon, is only 1 Iff English.
Some remarks have been made by subscribers, that
the Author has not given in the last volume his opinion
of the value of pictures, as he had done in former parts
of the work (an omission purposely made, at the re-
commendation of some friends) : to such observations
he begs frankly to reply, that experience has taught
him the difficulty, and, it might be added, onerous
task of fixing a definite value on a fine work of art, a
question in which no two persons will exactly agree ;
in fact, its value is, to a certain extent, arbitrary, and
the possessor has an undoubted right of putting his
own estimation on it. The ' only conditions to be
exacted in all bargains are, that the picture or pictures
should be by the master for whose works they are sold.