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 2) (London: Ackermann, 1824)

52

ROBIT'S COLLECTION.

large as life, sitting, and leaning on a stone. In
his left hand is an open book, and his expressive
look towards heaven announces one of those
moments when he is inspired by divine grace.
This fine character is draped in a grand style,
and presents to the amateur a work worthy of the
celebrity of its author, who has always been justly
ranked with the first painters, for the beauty of
his penciling, the freshness of his colouring, and
his admirable design and expression. It is 74 in
Bryan’s catalogue.
68. Gabriel Metzu—painted on canvas—-
31 inches by 25.
The interior of a bedroom, in the centre of
which a lady is seen habited in a red body and
white satin petticoat embroidered with gold; she
is standing, while a servant, holding an ewer and
silver basin, pours water on her hands : on the
right is a man dressed in black, holding his hat,
and who appears to approach unseen, except by a
little dog who barks at him.
The figures in this picture are of a proportion
of 15 or 16 inches, and are of admirable exe-
cution. The back ground is occupied by a bed
of red stuff, a dressing-table with the necessary
articles, and a brass lustre.
This picture may be considered as one of the