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.

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Allegorical Subjects.
277. The Arcadian Shepherds. This beautiful moral lesson
of the transitory nature of all sublunary enjoyment, is poeti-
cally illustrated by three shepherds and a nymph, who are
thoughtfully reading, and moralizing on the inscription of a
tomb,—“ Et in Arcadia Ego ;” one of the former is bending
on his knee, and significantly tracing his finger over the letters;
a second is also bending forward; and while pointing towards
them, looks round to invite the spectator’s attention to the
ominous sentence : the nymph stands by the side of the latter
swain, looking gravely on. Engraved by Picart, Niquet,
Mathieu, and Rundel.
2ft. 8 in. by 5 ft.—C.
Valued by the Experts du Musee, 1816. 50,000/>. 2000Z.
Now in the Louvre.

278. The Arcadian Shepherds. This excellent picture
differs from the preceding, both in shape and composition. The
subject is here composed of two shepherds, a nymph, and an
emblematical figure of a river; one of the shepherds, with
his back towards the spectator, and his face in a profile view,
stoops forward, and is passing his finger over the last letters
of the inscription; the other stands on his left, and the nymph
is at the extremity of the group. The significant inscription,
“ Et in Arcadia Eg of has excited in each of them pensive
reflections. The river god is recumbent asleep, close to the
front, with his hand on a vase. Engraved by Ravenet.
3 ft. 4 in. by 2ft. 7 in.—C.
Now in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire.

279. An Allegory of Human Life. This picture, as
well as the two preceding, and also many others noticed in the