138 JAN STEEN SECT. 515. St. Nicholas's Day. Sm. 16. ; W. 106. A composition ot eight figures. In the centre is a little girl, who for her industry at school has received as presents a wreath, a gold chain, and two tulips. She carries a cup in which a boy with a toy in his hand places a coin, which his mother appears to have given him for that purpose. The girl is attended by a young woman who holds up her apron, and by a boy carry- ing a reed with a sprig and an orange attached to it. Behind them are a girl, an old man, and a bad boy who is crying. Panel, 31 inches by 26 inches. In the collection of Harry Phillips, 1833 (Sm.). 515*. St. Nicholas's Day. In the collection of Walsh Porter, London. Sale. W. Buchanan, London, 1846 (199 : ios., bought in). 516. THE PRINCE'S BIRTHDAY (or, "Oranje Boven"). Sm. Suppl. 36 ; W. 46. A jovial company of twenty-one persons cele- brates the birthday of William III. (November 14). To the right is a table upon which is a large ham. In front of it kneels a man, who holds a sword in his right hand and drinks a glass of wine to the health of the Prince. An old married couple on the other side of the table look at him smilingly ; a woman, seated in the foreground, turns round in her chair to watch him. On the left, near the table, a man, standing with a girl, drinks the Prince's health. At a second table on the left a peasant is reading to some guests. Near them is a staircase leading to a gallery. Through a door at the back is seen a courtyard. From the ceiling > hangs a bill inscribed, "Salus patriae suprema lex esto." On the wall at the back is a label inscribed : " Op de gesonheyt van het nasauss basic In de eene hant het rapier, in de andre hant het glaesie." [" To the health of the house of Nassau In the one hand the rapier, in the other the glass."] This picture should "be ranked among his best productions" (Sm.). Signed in full beneath the label ; panel, 18 inches by 25 inches. Sale. 1826. In the collection of J. Rombouts, Dordrecht, 1842 (Sm.) and up to 1850. Afterwards in the Dupper collection, Dordrecht. Bequeathed by L. Dupper, 1870, to the Rijksmuseum. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1905 catalogue, No. 2235. 517. THE PRINCE'S BIRTHDAY. Sm. 138 and Suppl. 29; W. 152. A composition of thirteen figures. In the centre is a young woman in a red dress, holding an infant to her breast. Near her to the right is a boy beating a drum, as an accompaniment to the toast which is being drunk by five men seated round a table. One man stands on his chair and drains his glass to the health of his country, as is indicated by the inscription over the door : " Salus patriae suprema lex esto." By the hearth to the right men and women are conversing. A woman brings some cakes to the young mother. A "very excellent picture" (Sm.).
