ii GABRIEL METSU 3 2 3 hangs on the window to the right. The window is overgrown with creeper. In the room behind is a book-case with a globe on it. The picture is somewhat pale and there are grey tones on the flesh, but it is a very fine work. The green of the foliage has turned blue. Signed in full on the back of a book j panel, loj inches by 9^ inches. Possibly a pendant of "The Sportsman" at The Hague (207), which it resembles in style. Engraved in the " Choiseul Gallery," No. 1 1, and in the " Musee Fra^ais." In the collection of G. Braamcamp, Amsterdam (Hoet, 506) ; but not in the sales of July 31, 1771, or January 27, 1772. Sales. Due de Choiseul, Paris, April 7, 1772, No. 21 (3200 francs). Prince de Conti, Paris, March 15, 1779, No. 329 (2501 francs). Comte de Vaudreuil, Paris, November- 24, 1784, No. 44 (3001 francs, Paillet). In the collection of Louis XVI. Now in the Louvre, 1900 catalogue, No. 2461 (old No. 295). 2090. An Appthecary with a Book at an arched Window. Probably a replica of " The Learned Man " (209). In the collection of Thomas Staniforth, Storrs, 1857 (Waagen, Suppl. 427). 210. A WOMAN AT A WINDOW. At an open cottage win- dow, the shutter of which is pushed back to the left, leans a stout peasant woman looking to the left. She wears a white chemise and cap and a reddish mantle. Her right hand rests on a red jacket lying on the window-sill ; her left hand is on her bosom. Hanging up to the left among the vine-leaves is a bird-cage. The signature looks more con- vincing in the picture than in the facsimile given in the catalogue. But even if picture and signature are genuine, this is not a specially good example. Signed in the left-hand bottom corner, "G. Metsu" ; panel, 9^ inches by 7 inches, with rounded top. Purchased from a Cologne dealer, 1872. Now in the Weber collection, Hamburg, 1892 catalogue, No. 254. 211. AN OLD WOMAN AT A WINDOW WITH A BOOK. Sm. 24 and Suppl. 39. An old woman in black is at a window. She turns the leaves of a book lying on the window-sill. Near her are a jug and a mortar. A bird-cage hangs up to the left. It is weak in colour, but is in other respects a good example. Signed in full ; panel, 12 inches by io| inches. Described by Waagen (ii. 104). Exhibited at the Royal Academy Winter Exhibition, 1890, No. 64. Sales. (Probably) Van der Lip, Amsterdam, June 14, 1712, No. 15 (83 florins). G. Braamcamp, Amsterdam, July 31, 1771, No. 129 (1095 florins, Locquet). P. Locquet, Amsterdam, September 22, 1783, No. 221 (1550 florins, Fouquet). In the collection of Madame Hoofman, Haarlem, 1833 and 1842 (Sm.) ; it was sold, June 2, 1846. Now in the collection of Lord Ashburton, The Grange.
