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)

CLAUDE LORRAINE.

189

He was a well-proportioned person, about five feet
eight inches high, with a strongly featured counte-
nance, a prominent nose, a high forehead, black eyes
and hair, with whiskers of a similar colour. His
expression was grave, tending to severity.
It might be supposed, from the liberal encourage-
ment he experienced in his profession, that he would
have left considerable wealth to his successors : this,
however, was not the case, for the sum total of his
property did not exceed 10,000 scudi; and this,
together with the whole of his effects, he bequeathed
equally to three of his nephews, for whom, as well as
other relations, he had ever shown a warm regard.
To this feeling of affection towards his necessitous
relations may be attributed the smallness of the residue
of his property.
The statement made by several biographers, that Claude was
originally apprenticed by his parents to a pastry-cook, must have
proceeded from some error (he being left an orphan at twelve years
of age), arising out of the circumstance of his joining his brother at
Fribourg, who was a carver, and, probably, a mould-sinker for con-
fectioners.