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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and the Pope in particular, is said to have taken so
great a pleasure in his conversation, that he osten
invited him into his presence.
Among the many pictures which emanated from his
p'encil, Pascoli mentions one in particular, representing
a woody scene, which he painted with extraordinary
care, from the choicest groups of trees in the neighbour-
hood of the Madama Villa and Mount Marius. This
he constantly placed near his easel, as a model to work
from. This beautiful study so delighted his holiness,
that he repeatedly offered to cover it twice over with
gold, if the artist would part with it; but such was its
value and importance to the painter, that he respectfully
declined to do so on any terms, alleging that such a
picture was not only indispensably necessary as a
model to govern his own eye, but would be still more
needsul should he leave behind him any unfinished
works. This apprehension was not without reason,
for towards the middle of his life he was troubled with
symptoms of the gout; as he advanced in years this
painful disorder increased in violence, and at times
rendered him incapable of pursuing his profession.
Notwithstanding these severe visitations, his patience
and good humour never forsook him, and at intervals
of relief from pain, if unable to paint, his greatest
pleasure was in conversing on the subject of his pro-
fession, and freely communicating his opinions on the
principles and practical department of painting. On
such occasions he would illustrate his observations by
apposite allusions to certain of his productions, one of
which was generally the woody scene above noticed;