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)

176

CLAUDE LORRAINE.

conclude, that their circumstances were narrow and
humble. Claude, who had only just attained his
twelfth year when this calamity occurred, was under
the necessity of exerting himself for his own support.
Driven at this early age from his natal abode, he tra-
velled alone and on foot to Fribourg, in order to seek
the protection of his eldest brother, who was a carver
or engraver in wood. Here he found a refuge, and
here he first became acquainted with the pencil; it was
here also, that, while tracing the forms of arabesque
and other ornaments, preparatory to initiation to
his brother’s business, the latent seeds os genius
began to germinate, and he soon evinced the most
decided proofs of taste for a pursuit, which he after-
wards carried to such high perfection. How long he
remained under the limited instruction of his brother
is uncertain, perhaps not many months; but his con-
tinuance there was broken off by the arrival of a
relation, a dealer in lace, who was then on his journey
through Fribourg to Rome. Possibly this person had
some knowledge of art, and was consequently induced,
by the promising productions of the young artist, to
take charge of him, with a view of placing him under
a suitable master in the capital to which he was going.
He, however, no sooner arrived at Rome with his
charge, than some unforeseen event compelled him to
quit with such haste, that he had no time to make any
provision for his young relative; and the youth was
again thrown on his own resources, with little money
in his pocket, and neither a friend or a guide to direct
him, in a strange city, and far from all his relations.