DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62939#0259
243
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE CATALOGUE
OF THE WORKS OF
PETER PAUL RUBENS.
Every one conversant in Art, who has perused with any de-
gree of attention thcycatalogue of the works of Rubens, must
have been struck with surprise at the vast list of pictures
recorded under his name ; and this feeling may have been suc-
ceeded by incredulity, as to the correctness of such a list.
Although these impressions have been in some measure anti-
cipated by the author in the preliminary observations, at the
end of the life of the painter, yet he feels it necessary on the
present occasion, while offering so large a supplement to that
catalogue, to request a perusal of that article, and in addition
to which he begs candidly to say, that the difficulties he has
had to contend with in registering this master’s works, have
cost him much anxiety and trouble, so many (chiessy of a
Gallery size) appearing to have but little claim beyond their
composition to the honour of Rubens’ name, but having been
engraved as his work, or bearing testimonials of some weight,
the author conceived it to be his duty to insert them in the
catalogue, and to preface the supplement with these observa-
tions, as a guide and a caution to subscribers and others in
their future purchases.
It will doubtless occur to the discerning reader, that many
descriptions are borrowed from prints, which in some instances
embrace only a portion of pictures, or are deviations from
original compositions, but as it was not possible in every case
to identify them, the author has preferred inserting such,
rather than subject himself to the charge of injudicious omis-
sions.
R
9
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE CATALOGUE
OF THE WORKS OF
PETER PAUL RUBENS.
Every one conversant in Art, who has perused with any de-
gree of attention thcycatalogue of the works of Rubens, must
have been struck with surprise at the vast list of pictures
recorded under his name ; and this feeling may have been suc-
ceeded by incredulity, as to the correctness of such a list.
Although these impressions have been in some measure anti-
cipated by the author in the preliminary observations, at the
end of the life of the painter, yet he feels it necessary on the
present occasion, while offering so large a supplement to that
catalogue, to request a perusal of that article, and in addition
to which he begs candidly to say, that the difficulties he has
had to contend with in registering this master’s works, have
cost him much anxiety and trouble, so many (chiessy of a
Gallery size) appearing to have but little claim beyond their
composition to the honour of Rubens’ name, but having been
engraved as his work, or bearing testimonials of some weight,
the author conceived it to be his duty to insert them in the
catalogue, and to preface the supplement with these observa-
tions, as a guide and a caution to subscribers and others in
their future purchases.
It will doubtless occur to the discerning reader, that many
descriptions are borrowed from prints, which in some instances
embrace only a portion of pictures, or are deviations from
original compositions, but as it was not possible in every case
to identify them, the author has preferred inserting such,
rather than subject himself to the charge of injudicious omis-
sions.
R
9