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.

113

Mythological Subjects.
, . - -
This superlative picture was painted for the Cardinal
Barberini; it was subsequently in the possession of John
Lock, Esq., from whom it passed into the hands of John
Purling, Esq.; at the sale of whose collection, in 1801, it was
sold for 670Z., and was then bought for J. J. Angerstein, Esq.
Engraved by G. Doo.
4st. 8in. by 3ft. 1 in— C.
Now in the National Gallery. Worth 1200Z.

214. A Revel and Sacrifice to Pan. The frequent re-
petition of these subjects shows how deeply the artist’s mind
was imbued with the love of sylvan rites and ceremonies,
characteristic of the fabled golden age, when “ In wanton
dance they praise the bounteous Pan.” Here the inhabitants
of the groves, nymphs, fauns, and satyrs, have joyously
assembled round an altar erected to the honour of the
“ universal deity,” whose terminal image stands on the farther
side of it. Some of them have partaken freely of the bounties
of this “ god of nature,” and among them is a beautiful
bacchante, who lies asleep towards the front of the picture:
near to her are a nymph and a faun sitting together; the
attention of the former is at the moment attracted by a
sylvan, who is dragging a goat by the leg; a third female,
with her hand raised to her head, is seen beyond them. In the
opposite side of the picture is a car drawn by tigers, by which
it would appear that Bacchus was present at the revel. A
bacchante gaily striking the cymbals, a satyr laden with a
large vase, and a bacchanal boy playing with the tigers, are
also introduced. The landscape exhibits a beautiful arcadian
scene, appropriate with the subject. Engraved by J. Rosa.
A picture corresponding with the preceding description is
vol. vm. i