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)

54

ROBIT’S COLLECTION.

It was sold at Robit’s sale for the sum of 4500
francs. It is No. 78 of Bryan’s catalogue, and is
now again in Paris.
70. G. Metzu—painted on wood—13-L
inches by 11.
Le Corset bleu. In the interior of an apart-
ment a young lady is sitting, and is opening a
music book. She is dressed in a bedgown of blue
velvet trimmed with ermine; over a petticoat of
white satin ornamented with gold lace. This
young person, of a clear complexion, is near a
table covered with a Turkey carpet, on the other
side of which a man of a serious character is
standing tuning a guitar, and appears pre-
paring to give a lesson in music. A beautiful
spaniel dog in the foreground forms a pleasing
addition to the subject, while a silvery tone of
colouring, sustained by the most perfect effect of
clair-obscure, joined to a vast suavity of pencil-
ing, and a truth of expression, render this picture
one of the most distinguished productions of this
able painter. It may indeed be added that it has
been generally considered to be the chef-d’cezivre
of Metzu, and is known by the name of Le Corset
bleu.
This picture, which is No. 28 in Bryan’s cata-
logue, was sold at Robit’s sale for 8512 francs.