DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22421#0086
22
ACQUISITIONS FEOM THE NETHEELANDS. Letter II.
fully exerted themselves. Instant, pressing necessity induced many
families to dispose of celebrated pictures to English bankers. In
this manner Mr. Sloane especially obtained many valuable pictures
in Rome. Thus it happened that most of the great families of
Italy lost more or less of their treasures of art. This fate fell
with peculiar severity on Rome, and especially on the families
Alclrobandini, Barberini, Borghese, Colonna, Corsini, Falconieri,
Giustiniani, Ghigi, Lanzelloti, and Spada; then on Genoa, where
the families of Balbi, Cambiasi, Cataneo, Doria, Durazzo, Gentile,
Lecari, Marano, Mari, and Spinola sold the whole or part of their
collections of art. In Florence the palace Riccardi, in Naples
the royal palace Capo di Monte, lost many admirable pictures.
Lastly, a great number of churches throughout Italy parted with
their altar-pieces. In 1841 the collection of the Duke of Lucca
came to London for sale, also a number of the most valuable pic-
tures from the Fesch gallery, sold by auction in Rome, 1843-44.
Finally, Lord Ward, a few years later, became the possessor of
the entire collection of Count Bisenzio, and also of some of the
most valuable of the Fesch pictures which had been bought in at
the auction.
In the same manner, and with the same success, have the
English exerted themselves from the year 1798 to the present
time in Belgium and Holland. At the beginning of this period
Mr. Bryan, who had taken so great a part in the purchase of the
Orleans collection, was especially active; and afterwards Messrs.
Buchanan and Smith. Of the immense number of valuable pic-
tures spread over each of these countries from their native schools,
the greater portion of the finest have been brought to England.
It is here we must now look for so many pictures which in former
times adorned the collections of Van Zwieten, Van Flasselaer,
Lubbeling, Van Leyden, Schlingelandt, Lormier, Braamcamp,
and numerous others, and which even in this century belonged to
Smeth Van Alpen, Muilman, Brentano, and Van Goll. Two col-
lections, moderate in size, but very choice, that of the Countess
tlolderness, formerly belonging to Greffier Fagel, and that of
the banker Crawford, were sold by auction in London in 1802
and 1806.
The acquisitions also made in these countries during the last
ten years have been very important. The entire collection of
ACQUISITIONS FEOM THE NETHEELANDS. Letter II.
fully exerted themselves. Instant, pressing necessity induced many
families to dispose of celebrated pictures to English bankers. In
this manner Mr. Sloane especially obtained many valuable pictures
in Rome. Thus it happened that most of the great families of
Italy lost more or less of their treasures of art. This fate fell
with peculiar severity on Rome, and especially on the families
Alclrobandini, Barberini, Borghese, Colonna, Corsini, Falconieri,
Giustiniani, Ghigi, Lanzelloti, and Spada; then on Genoa, where
the families of Balbi, Cambiasi, Cataneo, Doria, Durazzo, Gentile,
Lecari, Marano, Mari, and Spinola sold the whole or part of their
collections of art. In Florence the palace Riccardi, in Naples
the royal palace Capo di Monte, lost many admirable pictures.
Lastly, a great number of churches throughout Italy parted with
their altar-pieces. In 1841 the collection of the Duke of Lucca
came to London for sale, also a number of the most valuable pic-
tures from the Fesch gallery, sold by auction in Rome, 1843-44.
Finally, Lord Ward, a few years later, became the possessor of
the entire collection of Count Bisenzio, and also of some of the
most valuable of the Fesch pictures which had been bought in at
the auction.
In the same manner, and with the same success, have the
English exerted themselves from the year 1798 to the present
time in Belgium and Holland. At the beginning of this period
Mr. Bryan, who had taken so great a part in the purchase of the
Orleans collection, was especially active; and afterwards Messrs.
Buchanan and Smith. Of the immense number of valuable pic-
tures spread over each of these countries from their native schools,
the greater portion of the finest have been brought to England.
It is here we must now look for so many pictures which in former
times adorned the collections of Van Zwieten, Van Flasselaer,
Lubbeling, Van Leyden, Schlingelandt, Lormier, Braamcamp,
and numerous others, and which even in this century belonged to
Smeth Van Alpen, Muilman, Brentano, and Van Goll. Two col-
lections, moderate in size, but very choice, that of the Countess
tlolderness, formerly belonging to Greffier Fagel, and that of
the banker Crawford, were sold by auction in London in 1802
and 1806.
The acquisitions also made in these countries during the last
ten years have been very important. The entire collection of