Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 1) (London: Smith and Son, 1829)

GERARD DOW.

3

Many artists have finished their pictures as highly
as Dow; but there are none who have preserved the
same breadth and powerful effect, with such brilliancy
of colour. He was a perfect master of all the prin-
ciples of art; which, united with consummate skill and
labour, enabled him to produce the most perfect speci-
mens that ever came from the easel of a painter. Con-
trary to the usual practice of artists, Dow’s latter
pictures are more highly finished than his early ones.
La Femme Hydropique, now in the Louvre, is dated
1655; and Le Menage, now in the Musee at the
Hague, 1658. These two very capital pictures are
finished in the most wonderful manner; indeed it is im-
possible for finishing to be carried to higher perfection.
The Marquess of Stafford’s Violin Player is another
example of beautiful painting with exquisite finish.
The fine pictures of this master are exceedingly rare,
and consequently of immense value. Even in his life-
time, he had one thousand ssorins per annum allowed
him by a wealthy Dutchman, for the privilege of the
first refusal of all his pictures at his own price.
He died in 1674, aged 61.

A DESCRIPTION OF HIS PRINCIPAL PICTURES.
1. The Interior of a room, with a groined ceiling and
7 CT CT
arched windows. An interesting old woman, habited in the
costume of the time, stands in front, occupied in scraping car-
rots upon the top of a cask ; at her right is a boy, with a
mouse-trap in his hand, which he is holding up to the light of a
large window, in order to see the little prisoner: this object
appears to have drawn him from his studies, as he still holds a