John Smith
RA Collection: Book
Record number
07/195
Author
John Smith
Imprint
London:: Published By Smith And Son, 137, New Bond Street., MDCCCXXIX. (- MDCCCXLII.)
Physical Description
9 vols.; 240 mm. (Octavo.)
General Note
Vol. I: xxx, [2], 412 p., frontis. (port.). - Vol. II: lxii, [2], 418 p., front. (port.), [1] pl. - Vol. III: xxxiv, 502 p., front. (port.). - Vol. IV: xx, 326 p., front. (port.). - Vol. V: [4], 458, [2] p., front. (port.). - Vol. VI: vii. [1], 574 p., front. (port.). - Vol. VII: liv, [2], 287, [1] p., front. (port.), [2] pl. - Vol. VIII: lxv, [1], 486 p. front. (port.). - Vol. IX: ix, [3], 884, [2] p.
Contents
Vol. I: [Half-t., front., t.p., dedic.] - Introduction; Observations - [Text] - Index; [colophon]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - Acknowledgments - [Text and 1 pl.] - Index; Errata. - Vol. III: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - Preface; Errata - [Text] - Index. - Vol. IV: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - Preface - List Of Subscribers; Errata - [Text] - Index. - Vol. V: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - [Text] - Index - [Notice] - Errata; [colophon]. - Vol. VI: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - Advertisem*nt - [Text] - Index; [colophon]. - Vol. VII: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - Introductory Observations - [Text and 2 pl.] - Index; [note]; [colophon]. - Vol. VIII: [Half-t., front., t.p.] - To Subscribers - [Text] - Index; [colophon]. - Vol. IX: [T.p.] - Preface; Note; Errata - Contents - [Text] - Index; [colophon] - Index To Addenda.
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece portraits of Vols. I-VIII are signed by source-artists and engravers, Source-artists were G. Dow, A. Van Dyck, A. Van Dyck, J. Steen, Ronbrandt, M. Van Muscher, Rembrandt and N. Poussin. Reproducers were S. Mountjoy Smith (draughtsman), C.W. Marr (engraver), C. Hamburger (lithographer), Chas. G. Lewis (engraver). The additional plate in Vol. II. is signed as lithographed by J. Netherclift. The first additional plate in Vol. VII is signed as drawn by Albertus Brendgeest and engraved by C.G. Lewis; the second, as made by J. Netherclift.
Most plates carry the imprint of the publisher, Smith & Son, 137 New Bond Street, and some carry that of the lithographic printer, C. Hullmandel.
The text printers are named on the title-page versos and in the colophons: (vols. 1-8) 'London: Printed By T. Brettell, Rupert Street, Haymarket'; (vol. 9) 'London: Richards, Printer, St. Martin's Lane.'
The work is dedicated by John Smith to Robert Peel.
References
C. Hofstede de Groot, A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch painters of the seventeenth century, tr. E.G. Hawke (8 v., 1907-27); 'Smith's Catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish and French painters: a memoir of the author by his grandson', in Connoisseur, 5 (1903), p.213-16.
G. Schwarz, 'Rembrandt: connoisseurship et erudition', in Rev. A., 42 (1978), p.100-06.
Summary Note
The dates of publication are given on the title pages of the nine volumes as 1829, 1830, 1831, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837 and 1842.
This ambitious catalogue has been described as a 'landmark' in connoisseurship, although it was inevitably incomplete and several of Smith's attributions have been revised. In his introduction Smith writes on such practical matters as the cleaning and lining of pictures and on the standards to be maintained in art-dealing.
The text catalogues works by the following painters: Vol. I. G. Dow, P. van Slingelandt, F. van Mieris, W. van Mieris, A. Ostade, I. Ostade, P. Wouwermans; Vol. II. Rubens; Vol. III. A. Van Dyck, D. Teniers the younger; Vol. IV. J. Steen, G. Metsu, G. Terburg, G. Netscher, H.E. Vander Neer, A. vander Werf, P. de Hooge, N. Maes, G. Cocques; Vol. V. N. Berghem, P. Potter, A. Vander Velde, K. du Jardin, A. Cuyp, J. Vander Heyden; Vol. VI. J. Ruysdael, M. Hobbema, J. and A. Both, J. Wynants, A. Pynaker, J. Hackaert, W. Vander Velde, L. Backhuysen, J. Van Huysum, R. Ruisch; Vol. VII. Rembrandt; Vol. VIII. N. Poussin, Claude, J.B. Greuze; Vol. IX addenda on most of the above artists.
The frontispiece portraits of Vols. I-VIII show Gerard Dow, Peter Paul Rubens, Antony Van Dyck, Jan Steen, Nicolas Berghem, William Vander Velde junior, Rembrandt and N. Poussin. The additional plate in Vol. II shows a facsimile of the handwriting of Rubens; those in Vol. VII show [1] Rembrandt's house, Amsterdam, and [2] a facsimile of Rembrandt's handwriting.
Copy Note
Imperfect: lacks the half-title of Volume IV.
Binding Note
19th-century half red morocco, red cloth-covered boards; spines lettered 'Smith's Catalogue Raisonné' and 'R.A.'
Name as Subject
Peter Paul Rubens
Anthony Van Dyck
David Teniers the younger
Rembrandt
Subject
Painters - Artists - Netherlands - Belgium - France - History
Catalogues raisonnés - Art history - Great Britain - 19th century
Contributors
S. Mountjoy Smith, draughtsman
Charles W. Marr, engraver
C. Hamburger, lithographer
Charles George Lewis, engraver
Joseph Netherclift, lithographer
Charles Joseph Hullmandel, lithographic printer
Thomas Brettell, printer
Charles Richards, printer
Sir Robert Peel 2nd Baronet, dedicatee
Smith and Son (London), publisher
MARC Record view
