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.

71

New Testament Subjects.
the year 1647. Engraved by B. Audran, Pesne, Dughet,
Gantrel, anonymous, and in the Orleans Gallery.
3/L 10| in. by 5st. 8 in.—C.
Now in the Bridgewater Collection.

134. Extreme Unction. This solemn Sacrament is most
powerfully and affectingly illustrated, by a faithful delineation
of the chamber of a dying man, around whose bed are as-
sembled his affectionate and bewailing family. At the side of
the couch, and close to the front, stands a venerable priest,
clothed in a yellow robe, holding the sacred unction in one
hand, and bending forward to perform the pious ceremony
with the other; he is attended by a youth, bearing a lighted
torch in his hand and a book under his arm. On the farther
side of the latter person, is a man bending over the head of the
bed, and holding, with his arm extended, a lighted candle;
behind him are an aged woman, a man, and two children; one
of the latter is on her knees apparently praying. At the
opposite end of the bed is another group of persons, among
whom the most conspicuous is a young woman in a scarlet
vesture, recumbent on the foot of the couch, overcome with
grief; another woman is on the farther side of the bed holdino-
her infant to take a last embrace of its departing parent. On
the right, and more retired in the apartment, may be observed
a female seated at a small table, leaning her head pensively on
her hand. It appears by a letter written to M. de Chantelou,
in 1644, that this was the first picture of the second series
which Poussin commenced. In that letter he says: “I work
briskly on the picture of the Extreme Unction, which is, in
truth, a subject worthy of the pencil of Apelles, for he de-
lighted to represent dying persons. I shall not quit this
picture while I feel myself well, until I have completely laid