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)

232

PHILIP WOUWERMANS.

decayed tree; and near her stands a man with his hand on
his breast, the rest are seated, passing round the refreshing
cup. In addition to these is a man on a bay horse, with his
back to the spectator, bending his head towards the host of
the inn, who stands on his left with a glass in his hand. The
view is bounded on this side by a line of rocks clothed with
bushes, and surmounted near the middle distance by a
castle. Evening. See No. 390, Vol. i.
l#O|byl# 3.-P.
In the possession of Mr. Gritten.

DRAWINGS.
The exceeding rarity of drawings by this artist tends
greatly to prove the facility of his invention, the correctness
of his judgment, and the certainty of his hand; for had he
been deficient in any of these qualities, he must of necessity
have made previous studies of his compositions, in order to
have insured that successful issue to his labours so manifest
in all his productions. I cannot for an instant entertain a
belief in a report given by some of his biographers, that “ at
the close of his life he was induced from splenetic disappoint-
ment to destroy the whole of his folios of studies, in order
that his family might not be tempted to follow so unprofitable
a pursuit.” This opinion is fully borne out by the immense
number of pictures recorded in this catalogue ; for every one
connoissant in art, the theory of painting, and this master’s
works, must feel astonished at the number of beautiful
pictures produced by the pencil of one individual. Is it not
therefore reasonable to suppose that the labours of the palette
so engrossed his attention, that he had little time to spare
for drawing ?