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)

THE LIFE

OF
REMBRANDT VAN RHYN.

It is generally acknowledged, that, of the various
departments of literature, none excites more universal
interest than biography ; and this predilection may in
some measure be accounted for, from the correspondent
feeling which more or less influences every one who
would either follow a similar pursuit, or may be
emulous of distinguishing himself in that branch of
literature or science of which the history treats. The
biography, therefore, of those who have by their
genius, either instructed or entertained the world, or,
by their exploits, excited its wonder and admiration,
is read with intense interest; and the inquirer, far from
being satisfied with an outline of their general charac-
ter, and a notice of their genealogy, seeks to pry into
events of their earliest years, and to be acquainted
with every circumstance relating to their habits, man-
ners, personal appearance, education, amusements, and
even their foibles. Rarely does it occur that such
multifarious information is within the reach of
the historian, for the greater number of those
who have achieved eminence, passed their earliest
years in obscurity, and were all their life of such