392 ADRIAEN VAN OSTADE SECT. 815. Dancing outside the Inn. Sm. 231. About sixteen peasants are assembled outside a country inn. A couple dance to the music of an oboe and a hurdy-gurdy. Nearer the front sits a jovial fellow with his back to the spectator ; he holds up his glass in one hand and his cap in the other. In the middle distance is another party. Panel, 8 inches by 12 J inches. Described by Sm. from an engraving by J. de Visscher (Wessely, 56). 816. INTERIOR OF A VILLAGE INN WITH BACK- GAMMON- AND CARD-PLAYERS. Sm. 205, and Suppl. 116. By the hearth on the right are three men and a woman. The nearest man is seated and seen from the back. The second man sits in profile to the left. Between him and the seated woman stands the third man facing the spectator, and holding a beer-jug in his right hand. On the extreme left stands a chair. On a long table behind it, by the two large windows, two men play backgammon and two others look on. In the corner of the background are two card-players and a maid-servant. In front a child plays with a dog. The light and shade is especially good, and dates from about 1670. [Pendant to 826.] Signed in full, and dated 167- (or 1674, like the pendant, according to Sm.) ; panel, 12 inches by loj inches. Mentioned by Ch. Blanc, Le Tresor de la Curiosite, ii. 447. Sales. De Quarles, Amsterdam, October 19, 1818, No. 41 (1550 florins, J. de Vries). Comte Perregaux, Paris, December 8, 1841, No. 24 (7000 francs, Nieuwenhuys, according to the original catalogue ; but De Mor- kowe, according to Blanc). In the Steengracht collection, The Hague. 817. BACKGAMMON-PLAYERS. Sm. 15. Half-length. In front of a curtain a backgammon player sits at a table on which the board is spread, with two dice on the edge. The man holds a piece in his right hand ; on the board to the left is a wine-glass. His adversary, seated opposite to him, has a pipe in his mouth. Near him stands a third man, seen from the back. Signed in full, and dated 1660 (or, according to Sm., 1666) ; panel, 7 inches by 5 inches. Mentioned by Ch. Blanc, Le Tresor de la Curiosite", i. 99. Engraved by J. Beauvarlet after the original then in the collection of the Comte de Vence. Sale. Comte de Vence, Paris, April ii, 1761 (264 francs). In the Karlsruhe Gallery, 1894 catalogue, No. 248. 8 1 8. TWO BACKGAMMON - PLAYERS IN AN IN- TERIOR. Half-length. Two artisans play backgammon at a table to the right of a window. One casement is open ; a man who is smoking looks out. The nearer player is seen from the back in a three-quarter view to the right ; with his right hand he makes a move. The other man, feeing him, has risen from his seat behind the table, and looks at his rival player. He holds his long clay pipe firm in his mouth. There is an
