Pictures.
Mofaic in

gems.

Wanderwerf.

Gherardow.

I now come to the pictures in this room, but do not imagine that I have mentioned a third part of the curiofities to be found here; it is not poffible I fhould, my time will not admit of the attempt.

Here is a Mofaic in different gems, which furpaffes a picture; it represents a variety of birds; the excellence of the workmanship renders this piece more valuable than the precious materials of which it is compofed.

A picture by Wanderwerf; the subject the Adoration of the Shepherds: it is well executed, the defign uncommonly correct for this master, but it is minutely finished, as are all his pictures, to a fault.

A Gherar-dow; a candle-light piece of admirable touch and expreffion; the light rather too.

red.

Another. Another of the fame mafter, representing an old woman with other figures; this is an exquifite performance.

Holbeins.

Rubens.

Tiziano.

Two portraits by Holbeins; one of Luther; the drawing is correct but hard, and the colouring dry; the whole is flat and void of relief.

The three Graces in Grifaille, by Rubens; they are indeed all grace and elegance.

A large Virgin with the Infant Jefus; finely coloured, by Tiziano.

Mieris. A picture by Mieris, reprefenting a mountebank exhibiting to a crowded audience; finely

done.

A small

A small picture by Rubens; the fubject a Sile- Rubens nus drunk: nor greatly finished, but there is an ease in the drawing, and a glow in the colours, for which this mafter is often commended.

A fmall picture of the Nativity, by Rembrandt. RemThe representation in a most ignoble ftyle; St. brandt, Joseph is a common carpenter at work, behind him the Virgin nearly in the character of a parish girl, and St. Anne not unlike the mistress of a work-house; yet this is a very good picture.

A portrait of Andrea del Sarto, by him- Andrea felf.

a

del Sarto.

in a very good Giorgi

A head, by Giorgione; in

style.

one.

A small picture, but excellent, of the Virgin, Annibal

by Annibal Carracci.

Carracci.

A Crucifixion, with a St. John and a Mary Magdalen; the figures are about a foot high; by Michael Angelo. It is in high preservation, and Michael Angelo. of a correct defign and execution.

An excellent portrait, by Carracci, of his con- Carracci. feffor.

A small picture, by Mieris, a candle light Mieris. piece; the effect is ftriking, and the colouring ingenious.

A portrait of Raffaello, by Leonardo da Vinci; Leonardo delicately defigned, and of a fine natural flesh- da Vinci. colour.

A fine picture representing a Madona admiring the Infant Jefus, who is lying upon a cushion.

Corregio. This painting is by Corregio; it is highly finished, and in furprising preservation; the Virgin's head is extremely graceful. Cochin thinks it too large for her body; he admires the right-hand, and criticises the left; he alfo thinks the child fmall out of proportion. In all his affertions with regard to this picture I am perfectly of his opinion; nevertheless, the drapery is eafy and graceful, and it is a picture fo defervedly admired by all connoiffeurs, as to have been frequently engraved from.

Tiziano.

Paul Veronefe.

Carracci.

An admirable portrait of a cardinal, by Tiziano.

An old man's head, by Paul Veronese; a fine glow and freshness in the colouring.

Annibal A most striking picture in the grand style, by Annibal Carracci; the perfonages compofing the group are larger than life, but are only halflengths; the fubject a Satyr offering a basket of flowers and fruits to a nymph, whose back is turned to the fpectators. There is a verity in the drawing, in the anatomy, and in the colouring, worthy of the greatest admiration. The muscles of the nymph's back are rendered with a delicacy never to be seen but in the most beautiful nature; her head is graceful, the hair is fantastically dreffed, yet the invention has an elegant effect; her hand is fine, and very expreffive. The character of the fatyr rifes to the most frenetic poet's idea; and one of the Cupids in particular

is finely done. In this picture the tone of colouring, or prevailing tint, is a kind of tanned vermillion.

Three pictures by Raffaello, in his firft, fecond, Raffaello. and third manner; the two first represent a Virgin, the Infant Jefus, and a little St. John; there is great delicacy and grace in the heads, but the manner is rather dry and clear: the third appears to be exactly parallel with that famous St. John that graces the collection of the Duke of Orleans in the Palais Royal, and that I well remember you fo much admired. There exift three of these du. `plicates (if I may be allowed the expreffion) one I already mentioned to you at Bologna, and it is impoffible to say which is the beft, without feeing them all together; yet if I might venture to decide from my memory, (and M is of the fame opinion) I should give the preference to that at Bologna in the Palazzo Publico.

Tiziano.

del Sarto.

A beautiful Virgin by Tiziano. Another by Andrea del Sarto; great softness, Andrea yet, as in all the pictures I have ever feen by this painter, the eyes feem as if the pencil he had ufed to them had been dipped in pounded charcoal, and in tinting his flesh there is too much of a tancolour or light bay.

A picture in a circular form, by Michael An- M. Angelo; St. Jofeph is placing the Infant Jefus on the gelo. Virgin's fhoulder; in the back ground are several figures. This picture is one of those that are never fhewn unless particularly asked for. The drapery

I

Guido.

Same.

Tintoret.

drapery is fine; if there is any fault, it is in the manner, which is rather dry: the drawing is fufficiently correct.

A Virgin by Guido, in his laft manner; beau. tifully graceful, defigned with great delicacy, of a clear colour, the shades tenderly given, which are in general of a grey tint.

A Cleopatra by the fame; the fhadows black, the drapery correct.

A monkey combing a child, by Tintoret.
This picture is by the Italians faid to be in his
terrible manner.
It is painted with that boldness

and freedom of touch common to all the works of
this master.

Jacopo A picture by Jacopo Baffano, representing Baffano. himself and family performing a concert; he holds a mufic-book, one of the daughters plays upon an inftrument something like an harpsichord (I fuppofe it is an old-fashioned inftrument called virginals); the rest of the perfonages are also melodiously occupied: the colouring is strong and mellow, but there is a great want of grace, which may be accounted for from its being a family-piece.

Pietro di

A picture by Pietro di Cortona; the subject is Cortona. taken from the Book of Genefis: Hagar received again into Abraham's family; his character is that of a venerable old gentleman. The draping is good; he has an hofpitable countenance. Hagar feems delighted with the event; the angel has grace and dignity; the colours are finely melio

rated,