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)

238

PETER PAUL RUBENS.

errour, for I thought as you doe that his hand had been in
that peece, but sincerely and certainly it is not soe, for in
this peece the Beasts are all alive and in act of either escape
or resistance, in the expressing wherof Syder doth infinitele
come short of Rubens, and Rubens saith that he should take
it in ill part if I should compare Snyders with him in that
point. The talent of Snyders is to represent Beasts, but
especiallie Birds altogether dead, and wholly without anie
action, and that which your Lordship, Mr. Gage, and I sawe
of his hand which wee liked soe well, was a grouppe of dead
birds in a picture of Diana and certaine other naked Nymphs,
as Rubens protesteth, and Mr. Gage avoweth, and now myself
doe well remember it. This was the ground of your Lord-
ship’s errour and mine. I wrote to your Lordship some
fortnight since, but then I was not able to speake so clearly,
‘ ex mente authoris,’ soe I shall doe nothing upon your Lord-
ship’s answeare to my last, but will expect yours to this,
because to this it may be absolute : if your Lordship like not
the condition, I will presentlie put the chaine into Mr.
Tromball’s* hands well seene and sealed up, according to
former directions to be convayed : If your Lordship be pleased
to exchange your chaine for the picture I will take all the
pains I can, and Mr. Gage will gladlie use all the judgement
he hath, to make the Maister doe it excellentlie; but indeed
there will be noe neede of it, for I see he is disposed to doe
his best, and me thinkes he rather chuseth not to doe it,
then to doe it soe as not to gett honor by it.”

Letter the fifth, from Mr. Gage to Sir Dudley Carleton,
Ambassador at the Hague, dated Brussells, March 14,
1616-7.
“ I missed very narrowly Signor Rubens three days since
* Afterwards Sir Wm. Trumbull, Ambassador resident at
Brussels.