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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PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
IN REFERENCE TO THE WORKS OF
ANTHONY VAN DYCK.

The same difficulties which attended the author in the regis-
tration of the works of Rubens, have in some measure accom-
panied his labours in noting the portraits by Van Dyck; and
he has felt compelled to insert (under the influence of histo-
rical proofs, public opinion, and documents of some weight)
many pictures which show but feebly the impress of the mas-
ter’s hand. These difficulties, happily, are almost exclusively
confined to portraits of Charles the First and his family, as
such pictures, it is well authenticated, were multiplied in the
artist’s atelier by the king’s command, and were destined as
presents to favourite noblemen and others. The portraits
also of many distinguished statesmen were repeated, by spe-
cial orders, for friends of the parties. It is but just, there-
fore, to conclude that these and other duplicated pictures
were forwarded to a greater or less extent by pupils and
assistants, in proportion as the artist’s opportunity or health
permitted him to work on them.