374 GERARD DOU SECT. 93. AN OLD WOMAN WITH A BOOK. M. 207. An old woman, seen at full length, sits in an arm-chair facing left. She leans her elbow on the chair and is dozing over a book in her lap. Her left hand rests on the front of the chair ; her right, grasping her spectacles, rests on the book, which is open at a page with a decorated capital S. To the right is the hearth, above which hangs a bundle of onions. Near the woman are two dogs and an earthenware pot. The attribution to Dou, which is as old as James II.'s catalogue, is very doubtful. Panel, 10 inches by 8 inches. In the collection of King James II. of England, 1688 catalogue, No. 522. Now at Hampton Court Palace, 1904 catalogue, No. 334 (old No. 736). 94. A WOMAN READING. Sm. 29 and Suppl. 20 ; M. 205. A toothless old woman, seen at three-quarter length, sits facing right. With eye-glasses on her nose, she reads a large book which she holds on her lap with both hands. She wears a brown dress, a red jacket, grey undersleeves, and a grey sleeved vest, a white chemisette, a white cap, and a blue apron. The background is dark. Above, an arch is indicated with deeper colour. According to Somot, the same model as in 191 and in 160, both in the Hermitage. [Pendant to 160. Cf. 10.] Signed in full on the book ; panel, 10 inches by 8 inches. Mentioned by Descamps. Engraved by Wille. Sale. De Julienne, Paris, March 30, 1767 (3101 francs, Remy, for Count Cobentzl in Brussels). Given by Cobentzl to the Empress Catherine II. of Russia. Now in the Hermitage Palace, St. Petersburg, 1901 catalogue, No. 913. 95. AN OLD WOMAN READING THE BIBLE TO AN OLD MAN. Sm. 105 ; M. 4. At an open window, to the left of a dark room, sit an old woman in profile to the right, and a bearded old man, facing the spectator and holding a stick. The light from the window, through which come trailing vine-shoots, falls on the woman's white cap and collar and on the Bible which she holds. To her right is some food on a three-legged stool. In the right foreground are a spinning-wheel, a jug, and a bundle of onions. A bird's cage hangs from the ceiling. It is a fine picture, but was not well hung. Panel, 20 inches by 16 inches, with slightly rounded top. Once in the collection of King Louis XIV. of France. Now in the Louvre, 1900 catalogue, No. 2356 (old No. 129). 95*. An Old Woman with a Book. M. 291. In the De Bye collection, Leyden, No. 27, in 1665 (see Martin, Appendix iv.). 95/. An Old Woman reading. Sale. Johan Cau, Amsterdam, May 7, 1710, No. 8 (143 florins). 95*:. An Old Woman reading. An early work. Sale. Sandra, Middelburg, August 3, 1713, No. 121 (3 florins).
