PREFACE. 



Ill 



country which has produced fo few good 

 artifts. This objedion is fo ftriking, that 

 inftead of calling it ^6 Lives of Englijh 

 Painters y I have fimply given it the title 

 of Ane-cdotes of Painting in England. As far 

 as it anfwers that term, perhaps it will be 

 found curious. The indefatigable pains of 

 Mr. Vertue left nothing unexplored that 

 could illunninate his fubjedt, and collaterally 

 led him to many particularities that are at 

 leaft amufing : I call them no more, nor 

 would I advife any man, who is not fond 

 of curious trifles, to take the pains of turn- 

 ing over thefe leaves. From the antiquary 

 I exped greater thanks \ he is more cheaply 

 pleafed than a common reader : the one de- 

 mands to be diverted, at leaft inftru6led — 

 the other requires only to be informed. 



Mr Vertue had for feveral years been 

 collecting materials for this work : He con- 

 verfed and correfponded with moft of the 

 virtuofi in England; he was perfonally ac- 

 quainted with the oldeft performers in the 

 fcience ; he minuted down every thing he 

 heard from them. He vifited every col- 

 lection, made catalogues of them, attended 

 fales, copied every paper he could find re- 

 lative to the art, fearched ofBces, regifters 

 a 2 of 



