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.

XXXV11

"• tulate myself with having been the cause that they
“ have discovered in France able men, which were
“ not previously known, who are capable of enriching
“ Paris with works which will do honour to the
“ nation.”
He then alludes to the observations made on his
picture of St. Francis Xavier, and says, “ Let those
“ who conceive the Saviour resembles rather a Jupiter
“ tonnant than a God of Mercy, be persuaded, that I
“ use my best talents and study, to give to every
“ figure the expression most conformable to the cha-
“ racter represented; but I cannot, and I ought not
“ imagine a Saviour, (in whatever action he may be
“ represented,) with the visage of a torticolis, seeing
“ that while on the earth among men, it was difficult
“ to behold his countenance.” In reference to his
style of writing, he apologizes, by observing, “ that, as
“ he had lived with persons who understood and ap-
“ predated his works, his prosession was not that os
“ writing well. He concludes his letter by proving
“ that he understood perfectly what he was capable of
“ doing, without assuming too much, or courting any
“ one’s favours, rendering always testimony to the
“ truth, and avoiding ssattery, qualities too opposite
“ in their nature ever to unite.”
After writing the preceding letter, he very properly
conceived that he had done all that was necessary in
his own defence; and being thoroughly disgusted with
the intrigues of his artful rivals, and wounded in his
feelings by the lukewarm conduct of those who were
bound to protect him, he requested, and obtained per-