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)

OBSERVATIONS.

The productions of Nicholas Poussin exhibit more
distinctly than those of any artist preceding him, the
union of Poetry and Painting. Hence his reputation,
and the esteem in which his works are held, result
from the opinions of those most capable of judging
on the merits of Works of Art, as being well informed
of the necessary qualifications to produce a good poem,
or a good picture. To the illiterate, or the ignorant of
art, these qualifications are unknown ; they, therefore,
can only judge of objects that appeal to the senses.
To them, the world of Poetry is a mystery, and the
subjects derived from it, when represented in picture,
produce a confusion of ideas not reconcileable to any
they have formed, or can form os what constitutes a
painting of the highest excellence. Like parables, they
are so little understood by the multitude, that they
are frequently passed over with indisserence by gazing
crowds, who visit public collections, while an ordinary
picture of a common life subject, will fix attention, and
gain their warmest applause. True it is, that few of
Poussin’s pictures possess the blandishments os colour