176 CASPAR NETSCHER SECT. buff coat with embroidered sleeves, and a cuirass, sits on a bank near some trees, having his fortune told by a young woman whose elegant attire ill accords with her profession. An elderly woman stands at her side. While they attract the youth's attention, a boy picks his pocket. [Possibly identical with 79^.] Canvas, 22 inches by 18 inches. Engraved by Halbou in the Orleans Gallery (Sm.). In the collection of William Wilkins, London, 1829 (Sm.). 79. The Fortune-Teller. Sm. 45. On the right sits a young lady in white satin, holding a jug and a glass, and looking at an elderly woman who stands before her and is telling her fortune. A gentleman, seated beside the lady, watches the effect of the prediction and holds up a coin as a bribe to procure a favourable conclusion. "A beautiful and precious example of the master " (Sm.). Panel, 15^ inches by I2| inches. In the collection of D. W. Acraman, Bristol, 1833 (Sm., who says that it was valued by the owner at ^300). 79*7. A Fortune-Teller. [Possibly identical with 78.] 23^ inches by 19^ inches. Sale. Nesbitt and others, London, April 15, 1901, No. 81. 80. AN OLD MAN OFFERING A YOUNG COUPLE A PEARL NECKLACE. In the centre is a young lady, with her head turned a little to the left. A young gentleman standing on the right grasps her left arm. Behind a table on the extreme left stands the bearded dealer, who lays his left hand on the lady's shoulder, and with his right hand shows off the beauties of a pearl necklace. On the table lie a watch, gold coins, pearls, and other precious things. The dealer wears a black robe trimmed with fur. The lady has a blue bodice with a greyish-yellow scarf, and the young man is in blue with an orange cloak. Behind the dealer to the left is a brown figured curtain. Signed in full on the right beside the young man's head ; canvas, 19 inches by 15^ inches. Probably from the Nassau-Orange collection. In the Amalienstift, Dessau, 1877 catalogue, No. 249 catalogued as by Constantijn Netscher. 81. THE KNIFE GRINDER. Sm. 78. A man in a brown coat and a slouch hat, turned to the right, sharpens a knife on a grindstone. Beside it stands a boy, who tries the edge of his knife on his nail. Behind the man is a dog. It recalls "The Grinder and his Family" by Ter Borch (19) at Berlin. "Painted in a free spirited manner, but a little too brown to be pleasing " (Sm.). Signed in full, and dated 1662 ; panel, 17 inches by 13^ inches. Engraved by Poggioli, 1829. In the collection of Prince Eugene, Vienna. In the Louvre, Paris, 1802-1815. In the Pinacoteca, Turin, 1909 catalogue, No. 315 ; it was in the Palace, Turin, 1833 (Sm., who valued it at ^105).
