DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22422#0168
155
MARQUIS OF HERTFORD'S COLLECTION. Letter XVI.
Spanish School.
Velasquez.—Portrait of a royal personage, from the collec-
tion of Mr. Wells.*
Murillo.—1. San Thomas of Villa Nueva, distributing alms
to the sick and the poor. This fine picture was formerly in the
church of the Franciscans at Genoa. It is of the second period
of the master, after his return from Madrid, when, inspired by the
pictures of Velasquez, he united great fidelity to nature in the
conception with precision of detail. The subject was a peculiarly
happy one for Murillo. In the head of the Saint, in which
priestly dignity and gravity are admirably expressed, he has
proved how entirely he was equal to such subjects. The sick and
the lame afforded him, on the other hand, ample field for that
power of representing scenes from common life which we so
highly admire in his beggar-boys. The calm intellectual action
of the Saint forms a striking contrast with the excitement of the
objects of his charity, whose whole consciousness is concentrated
in their eagerness for the satisfaction of their physical necessities.
Purchased by Lord Hertford for 3000 guineas from Mr. Wells'
collection.
2. The Virgin in glory ; four saints below. From the Aguado
collection.*
3. The Annunciation, from the same collection.*
4. The Ascension of the Virgin, a small picture from the
Stowe collection.* Also two pictures from the Hope collection at
Paris.*
French School.
Nicolas Poussin.—The celebrated Dance of the Seasons.
From the Fesch collection, and generally known by Raphael
Morghen's elegant engraving.
Watteau.—Groups of elegant figures enjoying the pleasures
of the country. This fine picture is one of the chefs-d'oeuvre of
the master in size, grace of action, harmony, power of colouring,
and spirited execution. From the Fesch collection.
Greuze.—1. " Le Miroir casse." This is one of the rarer
specimens of the master, combining with the other qualities for
which he is esteemed a more decided incident. Formerly in the
collection " la Lire de Jully," where it was engraved by Dennel,
MARQUIS OF HERTFORD'S COLLECTION. Letter XVI.
Spanish School.
Velasquez.—Portrait of a royal personage, from the collec-
tion of Mr. Wells.*
Murillo.—1. San Thomas of Villa Nueva, distributing alms
to the sick and the poor. This fine picture was formerly in the
church of the Franciscans at Genoa. It is of the second period
of the master, after his return from Madrid, when, inspired by the
pictures of Velasquez, he united great fidelity to nature in the
conception with precision of detail. The subject was a peculiarly
happy one for Murillo. In the head of the Saint, in which
priestly dignity and gravity are admirably expressed, he has
proved how entirely he was equal to such subjects. The sick and
the lame afforded him, on the other hand, ample field for that
power of representing scenes from common life which we so
highly admire in his beggar-boys. The calm intellectual action
of the Saint forms a striking contrast with the excitement of the
objects of his charity, whose whole consciousness is concentrated
in their eagerness for the satisfaction of their physical necessities.
Purchased by Lord Hertford for 3000 guineas from Mr. Wells'
collection.
2. The Virgin in glory ; four saints below. From the Aguado
collection.*
3. The Annunciation, from the same collection.*
4. The Ascension of the Virgin, a small picture from the
Stowe collection.* Also two pictures from the Hope collection at
Paris.*
French School.
Nicolas Poussin.—The celebrated Dance of the Seasons.
From the Fesch collection, and generally known by Raphael
Morghen's elegant engraving.
Watteau.—Groups of elegant figures enjoying the pleasures
of the country. This fine picture is one of the chefs-d'oeuvre of
the master in size, grace of action, harmony, power of colouring,
and spirited execution. From the Fesch collection.
Greuze.—1. " Le Miroir casse." This is one of the rarer
specimens of the master, combining with the other qualities for
which he is esteemed a more decided incident. Formerly in the
collection " la Lire de Jully," where it was engraved by Dennel,