Excerpt from Supplement to the Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters, Vol. 9: In Which Is Included a Short Biographical Notice of the Artists, With a Copious Description of Their Principal Pictures

The publication of this Supplement to the Catalogue Raisonné has been delayed thus long, in order to render it as copious and complete as possible; and the Author flatters himself that a perusal of its con tents will convince Subscribers to the former portion of the work, and those interested in the subject, that the time has not been misspent, nor the zeal of the Writer grown lukewarm or indifferent in the perfor mance of the undertaking. A term of twelve years has elapsed since the publication of the first portion of the work, during which period the taste for, and knowledge of, the Fine Arts, has greatly progressed in England and elsewhere. Picturesof real excel lence have consequently doubled, and in some in stances quadrupled, their former value; Whereas works of a doubtful or fictitious character have pro portionably diminished. Whether the labours of the Writer have in any measure tended to produce this change, must be left to the observant and dis. Cerning reader to decide. It will not, however, he trusts, be considered presuming, if he claims themerit of having placed in the hands of the amateur of the Fine Arts a useful guide in selecting and purchasing such pictures of the Dutch, Flemish, and French Schools, as the work treats of; and which, if gentlemen have the prudence and discretion to con sult, they may with a considerable degree of safety indulge in the delightful and rational amusement of forming collections of pictures, which at any subse quent period they may dispose of without the risk of any material loss, and with the chance of consider able gain. The truth of this statement has been verified on several occasions within these last few years; andwould more frequently occur, if due attention were given to the information contained in this work; but alas! Many possess useful books who never profit by their contents; and it has not infre quently occurred to the author to witness with pain some of his most respected patrons and subscribers purchase at very considerable prices spurious pictures, the originals of which they have afterwards discovered, to their mortification, were either in some public gallery or well-known private collection. Often has it occurred to the ivriter, when appealed to on the merits and originality of pictures so bought, to be under the painful necessity of rather giving offence by withholding his opinion, than occasion strife and litigation, -the appeal being made after the purchase had been effected. If amateurs will suffer themselves to be beguiled by a plausible story, and surrender their judgment to an interested party, using no discretion in seeking information from others, nor consult such guides as are always within their reach, -they have only their own negligence to accuse, when they discover that they have been im posed upon. The Writer feels the more anxious to impress this advice upon the recollection of the lovers of Art, being fully convinced that due attention to such cautions will prove in the end mutually bene ficial, both to the buyer and seller; for it has been well observed, that every transaction should be based on integrity, in order to render commerce per manently advantageous.

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