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 (Band 9): Supplement (London: Smith and Son, 1842)

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work, “ On Art and Artists in England A by Dr.
Waagen,*—-in the preface to which, p. 12, the doctor,

* Published in 3 vols. 8vo. by John Murray, Albemarle Street,
London, 1838. Dr. Waagen’s work merits a place in the library
of every lover of the Fine Arts, as a very useful book of reference
to a large portion of the best collections of pictures in England,
interspersed with critical observations on painting and sculpture,
both ancient and modern, blended with much curious and interesting-
information ; in all of which the author evinces an extensive and
erudite knowledge of the subject, and great acumen in his criticisms
and observations. When we consider the precipitancy with which
the materials composing the work were collected, and the many
difficulties under which Dr. Waagen must have laboured, from the
wide distribution of objects, the frequent interruptions from over-
officious proprietors, and the uncivil manner in which he was
hurried through several important collections, added to a natural
anxiety to embrace in the shortest possible time the full advantage
of the many opportunities so liberally afforded him,—it would be
too much to expect that a work so composed should be free from
some errors. But an author, however talented, should surely have
paused before pronouncing opinions on works of art of the highest
importance calculated to injure valuable property ;—both the names
of painters of high-class pictures are changed to those of inferior
masters,* and the state of preservation of many sine pictures is
seriously misrepresented, f Can lack of time or convenient means
justify immatured opinions, so hastily and injudiciously pronounced,
and so wholly uncalled for ?
With all these defects, some of which (namely, the names of
painters) being in many instances a mere matter of opinion, may
not be deemed by some readers any imperfection ; and it must be
candidly acknowledged that the work throughout is evidently
* The beautiful picture of St. Cecilia in Mr. Wells’ Collection is changed
from Dominichino to Christofano Allori.
The Virgin and Child in Lord Ashburton’s Collection, by Leonardo da Vinci,
to A. Luini.
The Christ disputing with the Doctors in the National Gallery is also attri-
buted to Luini.
f Among the criticisms on the state of pictures, the most unjust are those
which apply to Mr. Hope’s Collection.