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)

276

CLAUDE LORRAINE.

Landscapes.
oxen, sheep, and goats browse on the verdant bank of a river
which ssows along the fore-ground. Painted in 1661 for M.
Le Brun. Engraved by Wilson, and also by Lowrie.
2st. 7 in. by 3ft. 6 in.—C.
Collection of M. Blondel de Gagny, 1776. . 10,000/s. . 400Z.
-W. Agar Ellis, Esq., and at present in the collection
of the Marquess of Westminster.
The preceding picture has considerable affinity in the com-
position to one described in No. 82, and, like that picture, is
styled in Young’s catalogue, “ The Decline of the Roman
Empire.”

154. A Reposo of the Holy Family. This admirable
picture displays a landscape of uncommon beauty and rich-
ness. A noble river divides the country, ssowing from the
right in an oblique direction to the opposite side, passing
under two bridges, and thence spreading itself along the base
of the distant mountains; clusters of trees of various kinds
grow luxuriantly on its banks, and herds of cattle feed in the
adjacent meadows. On the fore-ground of this lovely spot,
the sacred persons above named have halted to refresh: the
Virgin, seated in nearly a front view, holds the babe on her
knees while he receives some fruit from the hand of an angel,
who presents it on his bended knee; behind them is the aged
Joseph ; and the ass is browsing at their side. On the right is
seen a traveller, preceded by his dog, passing a bridge, and
going towards the ruin of a temple composed of four pillars,
of the Corinthian order, standing among bushes. The ap-
pearance is that of noon on a fine summer’s day. Painted in
1661, for an amateur at Antwerp ; afterwards in the Gallery
at Hesse Cassel, from whence it was taken by the French in
1806 ; presented to the Empress Josephine, at Malmaison; and