Page:Hofstede de Groot catalogue raisonné, Volume 1, 1908.djvu/323

ii GABRIEL METSU 299 Etched by Rajon for the " Portfolio." Sales. Michael Bryan, London, May 17, 1798, No. 28 (157 : ios.). Lord Radstock, London, May 12, 1826. In the collection of Sir Robert Peel, Bart., 1833 (Sm.). Now in the National Gallery, London, 1906 catalogue, No. 839 ; purchased in 1871 with the Peel collection. 156. THE MAN PLAYING THE VIOLONCELLO. 8111.45. In a vestibule a cavalier, dressed in green, with a large black plumed hat and red stockings, sits in front of a harpsichord playing the 'cello. He faces the spectator, but turns slightly to look at a lady, wearing a white silk dress and a pale red bodice, who descends a flight of steps to the right, holding out a sheet of music towards him. A little spaniel stands with its fore-paw on the lowest step. Another man in black leans out of an arched window of an upper corridor. This is an excellent work in its delicate chiaroscuro, but it is not so fine as the Wallace picture (199). Signed in full on the music ; canvas, 24! inches by 19 inches. Described by Waagen (ii. 7). Exhibited in the British Gallery, 1826 and 1827 ; and at the Royal Academy Winter Exhibition, 1893, No. 90. Sales. J. P. Wierman, Amsterdam, August 18, 1762, No. 32 (1150 florins). Marquis de Menars, Paris, February 1782, No. 57 (2700 francs). Robit, Paris, May 21, 1801 (2420 francs). Now at Buckingham Palace, London, 1885 catalogue, No. 132 ; where it was in 1833 (Sm.). 157. A MAN PLAYING THE VIOLIN AND A WOMAN SINGING. A young lady in a grey satin dress sings from a sheet of music lying before her on a table covered with an Oriental carpet. In the left foreground sits a man playing the violin. It is a weak picture, probably because of its unusually large size. Signed in full in the right upper corner and dated 1655 ; panel, 19! inches by 14^ inches. Formerly in the Zweibriicken Gallery. Now in the Picture Gallery, Schleissheim, 1905 catalogue, No. 813. 157*. A WOMAN PLAYING THE VIOLONCELLO. A lady in a white satin gown sits in her bedroom facing the spectator, and plays the 'cello. Her dress is cut low at the neck ; she wears a black cap and large pearl pendants in her ears. The 'cello is supported on her left foot, which rests on an overturned wooden box. On the left her little dog dances to the music. Farther to the left a music-book and a candlestick are seen on a table covered with a Turkey carpet. Behind it is a bed with blue curtains. To the right, through an open doorway, is a chimney-piece supported on columns. Above it hangs a picture in a gilt frame. Signed in full on the music-book, and dated 1663 ; panel, 17! inches by 15 inches. Sale. (Probably) Laurens van der Hem, Amsterdam, April 19, 1713, No. 14 (82 florins). Now in the collection of Count Eduard Racynski, Ragolin, Posen.