i JAN STEEN 207 Signed with the monogram on a stone to the left ; canvas, 36 inches by 47^ inches. A similar picture was bought by the Duke of Portland at the Bentinck sale, London, 1827. Imported from Oldenburg into England by Murch, 1827. Sales. At Phillips's, London, 1828 (24.6 : 155., bought in). Gunthorpe, London, 1842, (^215 : 55., Nieuwenhuys). J. L. Nieuwenhuys, Brussels, 1855. In the Suermondt collection, 1874. Now in the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, Berlin, 1898 catalogue, No. 795^. 768. A PEASANT BRAWL. In front of the entrance to a tavern, beside which is a tree, one peasant is in the act of striking another with a beer-jug. He has seized the man by the throat as he lies on a bench, and has pushed him backwards to the ground, so that his hat has fallen off. A woman tries to separate the men. The group is com- posed in a triangle. Panel, 10 inches by 8 inches. Described from a photograph, which leaves it uncertain whether the picture is an original, as the owner believes. Now in the collection of Leon Pininski, Lemberg. 769. Peasants Quarrelling. Sm. 80 ; W. 363. Numerous peasants are drinking and smoking in a tavern. In the foreground a man lies on the ground and is held down by a woman, because he tries to throw a beer-jug at another man's head. The opponent angrily draws his knife, but is held fast by a young woman. On a table stands a fiddler. Another pair of peasants are also quarrelling. In the fore- ground lie cards, a beer-jug, a broom, a chafing-dish, dice, and other things. In the centre hangs a garland of vine-leaves, the edge of which is inscribed " Prov. Cap. xx. Vers. i." ["Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging."] Signed in full on the left ; canvas, 27 inches by 34^ inches. Exhibited at the Royal Academy Winter Exhibition, London, 1879, No. 57. Sales. B. Kley, The Hague, May 10, 1781, No. II (225 florins, Van der Schley). G. van der Pot, Rotterdam, June 6, 1808, No. 118 (550 florins. Coders). In the possession of Major Corbett, London, 1879. Sale. London, April 6, 1889, No. 66. 770. A PEASANT BRAWL IN A TAVERN. W. 31. One man has fallen on the floor ; his opponent seizes him by the hair. A young woman, whose cap has fallen ofF, tries to part the men ; an old woman stands behind her. In the background on the right a man comes down a staircase ; a woman resolutely holds fast the cellar door, through which a man tries to force his way into the room. By the hearth on the right are three persons, among them a woman who laughs heartily. On the floor are various objects. The picture is excellent in expression and movement and pleasing in style.
