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)

xviii

THE LIFE OF

reaped the advantage which the patronage of so dis-
tinguished a person promised to procuie. Disap-
pointed in these expectations, he struggled for some
time under great disadvantages, and was srequently
compelled to dispose of pictures which had cost him
much time and thought, for very little money; an
instance of this is mentioned by Felebien and others,
in which he could only obtain seven crowns, for
two Battle pieces, containing a vast number of figures.
These pictures were afterwards in the collection of the
Duke de Noailles, and were then estimated according
to their merit.
An event occurred about this time, which nearly
cost the Artist his life. Some political misunder-
standing arose between the Roman States and France,
by which both the people and military were exceed-
ingly excited against the latter nation. He was one
day passing near the four Fountains, in company with
two of his countrymen, who, like himself, were readily
recognised by their dress, when they were suddenly
attacked by a party of soldiers with drawn swords;
his companions instantly fled, leaving him to his
fate : thus beset, he defended himself as well as he
was able with a folio, which he happened to have with
him, retreating at the same time, and calling lustily
sor help. In the encounter he narrowly escaped hav-
ing one of his hands pierced by one of the soldiers,
who seemed more inveterate against him than the
rest; this one he at length had the good fortune to
disable with a stone, and then made his escape. In
order to avoid such danger for the suture, he dressed