In Holland. 527 Ferdinand Bol (1611 — 1681) painted several historic works without much success, but excelled in portraiture. Of his works, his masterpiece is the Four Regents of the Hospital in the town-hall at Amsterdam. In England we find, in the National Gallery, a Portrait of an Astronomer. Several good pictures by him are in private collections. He was also an engraver. Jacob Backer (1608 — 1651) adhered in early life to the style of his great master, Rembrandt. He is chiefly famous for his portraits, but occasionally executed historic pieces. Philips de Koninck (1619 — 1689) made for himself a distinct branch in landscape painting. The endless depths of a smooth plain, intersected by alternate shadow and light, was his usual and favourite subject. He appears to have endeavoured to give an idea of infinite distance. The National Gallery has a Landscape, and Grosvenor House has fine examples of this master. Lingelbach frequently painted figures in his landscapes. Govaert Flinck (1615 — 1660), one of Rembrandt's best pupils, painted historic and genre subjects, and portraits. His best works are an Isaac blessing Jacob, in the Six Gallery at Amsterdam ; a replica is in the Museum. Gerbrandt van der Eeckhout (1621 — 1674) so far suc- ceeded in imitating Rembrandt's style, that his works have often been mistaken for those of his master. Jan Victors (fl. ab. 1635 — 1662), of whose life little is known, painted sacred history and genre subjects. Most of the Dutch galleries contain examples of his art. An Isaac blessing Jacob, in the Dulwich College Gallery, formerly ascribed to Rembrandt, is now catalogued as a work by Victors. Karel Fabritius (ab. 1624 — 1654) would doubtless have
