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)

44

NICHOLAS POUSSIN.

New Testament Subjects.
83. The Virgin and infant Saviour attended by Angels.
This superlative picture is intended to represent a riposo
of the sacred persons. The Virgin, clothed in a yellow
vest and a blue mantle, is seated, in a profile view, at the base
of a column on the right, with the infant standing on her lap ;
her right hand holds his foot and the left his arm, which he is
extending to take some fruit from the hand of an angel who
is reaching over a basket of fruit, borne on the head of another
angel; a third is also bending before him, with an apple in
his hand. Three other celestial infants are ssying over their
heads ; one is raising the border of a large curtain attached
from the column to a tree, the second has a chaplet of ssowers
in his hands, and the other is casting ssowers to perfume the
air. St. Joseph sits a little retired on the left, observing the
passing scene. Engraved by Chasteau and Bartolozzi.
2st. 9 in. by 2ft. 6 in.—C.
Collection of M. Thelluson, Paris, 1777- • 4200/s. . 168Z.
- Marquis de Veri, Ditto 1785. • 4800/s. . 192Z.
Anonymous by Mr. Christie, 1807 240ys.
Now in the collection of the Marquess of Westminster.
A picture representing a Riposo of the Holy Family, was
sold in the collection of the Marquess of Lansdowne, in 1806,
for 609^, but the description in the catalogue is too vague to
identify it.

84. The Holy Family. This capital picture is described
in the catalogue of the sale as consisting of twenty figures, and
represents the Virgin seated on the left, with the infant
Saviour on her lap, and St. Joseph standing near her. In
front of them is St. Elizabeth, on her knees, protecting her
child St. John, while he affectionately pays his devotions to
the Saviour. A number of angels are on the right, some of