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)

xlvi

THE LIFE OF

is represented the Exposition of the infant Moses,
was done in 1654, sor the Sieur Claude Stella; and in
the succeeding year he executed, for M. Mercier, St.
Peter and John healing the lame Man at the Beautiful
Gate of the Temple; and for M. de Chantelou, a
picture of the Virgin^ of the size of life. In reference
to the last-mentioned picture, it appears, from the
contents of a letter which accompanied it, that he fully
anticipated the observations that it was likely to
excite, and he therefore “ begs his friend to bear in
“ mind, that general excellence in art does not fall to
“ the lot of any individual; he therefore cautions him
“ not to expect to find in his work that which he has
“ not received.” He further says, “ I am quite aware
“ that a diversity of opinion will prevail among those
“ who see it, because the taste of amateurs, like that of
“ painters, varies considerably; and this difference of
“ taste is the cause of the diversity which is found in
“ the works of the one, and the opinions of the other.”
He goes on to support his opinion by a reference to
the works of ancient painters, and shows that they
severally excelled in parts only, and not one of them
attained to perfection : the same may be said of
ancient sculptors. “ Similar examples,” he adds,
“ might be adduced of painters of eminence, if we
“ consider well all they have done, who have flourished
“ during the last three centuries and a half ; among
“ whom I will not scruple to rank myself.”
In 1656, he painted, for a gentleman whose name
does not occur, a picture os the Holy Family, in
which are introduced St. Elizabeth and St. John ; his