i JAN STEEN I43 apparently annoyed and envious, turns his back on the drinker and is going away. There are numerous accessories. In the background is a bed ; in the foreground is a fine dog. A dish and other objects are on the table. The expression is delicate, the composition good, and the lighting fine ; and the picture is excellently preserved. Signed in full ; canvas, 32^ inches by 27^ inches. Described by Nagler and Waagen (ii. 10). Exhibited at the British Gallery, 1826 and 1827 ; and at the Royal Academy Winter Exhibition, 1894, No. 84. Sales. J. P. Wierman, Amsterdam, August 18, 1762, No. 42 (525 florins), but the dimensions and details given in the sale-entry do not agree precisely with the above. Clicquet-Andrioli, Amsterdam, July 18, 1803, No. 45 (1000 florins, Pruyssenaer). 1809 (3251 francs). Michael Bryan, London, 1810 (^152 : 53.). In the collection of William IV., 1833 (Sm.). Now at Buckingham Palace, London, 1885 catalogue, No. 107. 533. A COMPANY AT TABLE. Nine persons sit round a table. Below an open window to the right is a blind lute-player. To the left are an old woman singing, and a man who stands and beckons to her. A woman with a child holds a glass of wine in her right hand. A girl offers wine to a boy. Another boy, standing behind her, plays the flute. Jan Steen stands in the background laughing. The picture has suffered. Signed ; 14^ inches by 16^ inches. In the Whaley collection, Dublin ; acquired by Henry Grattan about 1845. Sale. A. Seymour, London, July 4, 1896, No. 68 (457). Now in the possession of the dealer M. Colnaghi, London. 534. A MERRY COMPANY AT TABLE. Sm. 92 and 123 ; W. 158 and 260. Six persons sit at a table covered with a white cloth. A stout man drinks a glass of wine ; a woman holds a child in her lap ; an old woman sits in an arm-chair, and a laughing man is seated to the right of her. Near him is a young man, in love with a young woman who is seated in front of the table and seems to be calling a dog. A pretty child goes up to the young woman and offers her a gaufre on a plate. Farther back near a window a maid-servant fills a pewter mug with beer. Near her are other persons, making fourteen in all. From the ceiling hangs a cage j above the fireplace at the back is a picture. In a passage a pair of lovers are taking leave of one another. It is a very fine picture. There is a delicate vista with sunlight. In the foreground the woman dressed in blue and red reminds one strongly of Metsu. Signed in full in the right-hand bottom corner ; canvas, 33 inches by 40 inches. Formerly in the possession of King George IV. of England, but sold to La Fontaine in exchange for other pictures (Sm.). Sale. La Fontaine, Paris, May 28, 1821 (bought in for 5645 francs). In the possession of the dealer Nieuwenhuys, who sold it to the Prince of Orange.
