330 ADRIAEN VAN OSTADE SECT. In the collection of the Duchesse de Berry, Palais Bourbon, Paris, 1829 (Sm.) ; offered for private sale with this collection, London, 1834 (priced at 800, and bought by Brondgeest for Van der Hoop). In the Van der Hoop collection, Amsterdam. In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Van der Hoop bequest, 1907 catalogue, No. 1817. 621. PEASANTS AT THE FIRESIDE (or, The Skaters). Sm. 202. In a rustic interior, lighted from the left by a window that is half cut off by the frame, a man stands in the left centre foreground, facing the spectator. He wears a bluish-red jacket, and has his hands behind his back. He is speaking and turns his head to the right where another peasant sits on a low chair in profile to the left ; this man looks up, holding a clay pipe in his left hand which rests on his left knee. On the right, in front of his chair, is a puppy. Behind it, on a very low stool, sits a woman with a white cap who lets the little child standing in front of her drink out of a glass. Another peasant, behind the woman in half- shadow, speaks to her. Three other peasants are grouped round the fireside on the left. In front of the man standing in the foreground are a little child seen from the back, and a pewter pot and a clay pipe on a three-legged stool. On a table by the window to the left are dishes. One of Ostade's best pictures of this period, with very fine light and shade. The transitions from light to shadow are seldom so well rendered by him as in this work. The colours too are delicately harmonised. Signed in full, and dated 1656 or 1650, according to the Amsterdam catalogue; panel, 17! inches by 14 inches. Engraved by Cornelis Visscher (Wussin, 163) ; and by J. W. Kaiser. A copy is in the Rumjanzof Museum, Moscow, 1901 catalogue, No. 583. Exhibited in the Six collection, Amsterdam, 1900, No. 103. Sales. Hendrik Sorgh, Amsterdam, March 28, 1720 (Hoet, i. 244), No. 37 (95 florins). Amsterdam, June 26, 1799, No. H ( 1 7 florins, I. Schmidt). In the Six van Winter collection, Amsterdam, 1829 (Sm., who valued it at 472 : I os.). In the Six van Vromade collection, Amsterdam ; acquired for the Rijks- museum early in 1908. In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam ; third supplement of 1907 catalogue, No. 622. PEASANTS AT AN INN. In a cottage, with a timbered roof, three peasants sit round a low table in the left centre, listening to a flute-player who sits facing left. One man drinks the musician's health. Behind them stand a man and a child. Farther back, a peasant ascends some steps to another room on the left. Below, on the left, is the entrance door of a cellar. In front of the flute-player is a little white dog. In the right background at the fireside are three peasants j one lights his pipe with an ember. Painted about 1645-50 under the influence of Rembrandt. Signed in full on the right at foot, on the floor ; panel, 14 inches by 17 inches. Sale. Baron H. von Mecklenburg, Paris, March 12, 1870, No. 28 (16,020 francs).
