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)

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ADRIAN VAN OSTADE.

Adrian Ostade painted a considerable number of draw-
ings in semi-opaque water-colours, finished with great delicacy
and care, and with a brilliancy and effect little short of his
pictures ; these are so highly esteemed by his countrymen, and
also by the refined connoisseur in this class of art, that they
bring prices equal to some of his pictures: one of his finest
productions in this style is in the possession of Messrs.
Woodburns, who are distinguished for their taste and judg-
ment in works of art, particularly for their rich collection of
drawings by the old masters.
The drawing alluded to represents the Interior of a room,
with a company of twenty-five figures, the nearest of whom (to
the spectator) is a woman seated on the right, with a child
standing by her ; she has turned round to a man, who sits near,
with a long glass of liquor in his hand; towards the back part
of the room is a couple dancing to the sound of a fiddle,
played by a man elevated at the side, behind a happy group
of both sexes; in the fore-ground are a few culinary utensils,
and a cat. A window illumines the end of the apartment.
Dated 1673. Valued at 130 guineas.
Some of this artist’s drawings have been imitated in aqua-
tinta, coloured by Janinet, and more successfully by Ploos Van
Amstel.
Ostade etched fifty plates, the subjects of which are very
accurately described by Bartsch, in Le Peintre Graveur.