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 8) (London: Smith and Son, 1837)

NICHOLAS POUSSIN.

XV

they were, in consequence, divided among several
Artists. Poussin undertook to execute six of these
pictures, although the utmost time allowed was only
six days ; but such was the readiness of his invention
and execution, and so great his knowledge of painting
in sresco, that they were completed within the given
time. Notwithstanding the rapidity of the execution
(sor he was obliged to work night and day on them),
his set proved to be the best of the series.
About this time, Poussin had the good sortune to
be introduced to Marino, the Italian poet; this ac-
quaintance soon ripened into a mutual attachment,
and became ultimately of great advantage to the
Artist. The Poet readily discerned the elevated mind
and genius of the Painter, and soresaw his future
greatness, while the latter took much delight in the
learned conversation of the Poet, so that Poussin
became a constant visitor to his new friend, whose
indifferent state of health generally confined him to
his room. Marino had just completed his poem entitled
Adonis, and the newly formed intimacy ofsered him a
favourable opportunity of embellishing it with draw-
ings illustrative of the principal events, which he
purposed at a suture time to have engraved; indispo-
sition or some other cause, prevented the sulfilment os
this intention*. The decease of Pope Gregory, and
the elevation to the Pontificate of Urban VIII.,
* These drawings, together with the manuscript os the poem,
were afterwards in the possession of the Cardinal Massimi at Rome,
and it is much to be regretted that they have never been engraved.