Buchanan, William: Memoirs of painting: with a chronological history of the importation of pictures by the great masters into England since the French Revolution (Band 1) (London: Ackermann, 1824)

FLEMISH SCHOOL.—g. dow.

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which nothing in painting can surpass. His
animals, poultry, vegetables, are painted with a
force and freshness of colouring which reflects na-
ture in miniature : and, above all, he scrupulously
avoided that vulgarity of character which seemed
so much to delight his master. His subject, al-
though generally representing persons in the lower
ranks of life, is well chosen ; and there is always
something pleasant and cheerful in the counte-
nance of his females, although they may be but
market-women.
The prices given for the fine works of Gerard
Dow have always been very high ; and, more
especially of late years, they have become exceed-
ingly scarce.
In this collection there was only one of that
class.
1. Player on the Violin—J. Davenport,
Esq.—300 guineas.
This picture was again sold by Mr. Christie, at
the sale of that gentleman’s pictures in 1801.
2. Old Woman and Lamp.
3. A Dutch Woman.
A few pictures of the finest class of this ma-
ster’s works have been brought to England since
the period of the French revolution. One of
these, his own portrait, is in the Stafford Collec-
tion, and was brought to this country by the late