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)

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LANDSCAPES.

296. Paradise. This beautiful exemplification of the
vernal season embodies so nearly, both in its composition and
colour, the glowing description given by Milton, that one
might easily imagine the painter had studied the poet.

“ Where delicious Paradise,
Now nearer, crowns with her enclosures green,
As with a rural mound, the champain head
Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides
With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,
—-and over head up grew
Insuperable height of loftiest shade,
Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,
A sylvan scene ; and, as the ranks ascend
Shade above shade, a woody theatre
Of stateliest view;
Of goodliest trees, loaded with fairest fruit,
Blossoms and fruits at once, of golden hue,
Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed;
-so lovely seem’d that landscape.”

In the fore-ground of this resplendent scene are introduced our
two first parents. Adam is seated with his back to the spec-
tator, and Eve kneels by his side, pointing to the Tree of
Knowledge, whose

“ Fruit, burnish’d with golden rind, hung amiable.”

Around is seen a variety of birds and beasts; many of the
former kind, with their rich plumage, inhabit the upper