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 3) (London: Smith and Son, 1831)

DAVID TENIERS.

331

The playful vagaries of imagination, the skill displayed in the
composition and effect, together with the delicacy and spirit of the
execution, render this a work of singular excellence of its kind.
Collection of the Count de Merle, . 1784. . 3500^5. 140Z.
-M. Destouches, . . 1794.
It was lastly purchased by Mr. Emmerson, together with a va-
luable collection of M. Paignon Dijonval in 1821, and sold by him
to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart, for .... 350 gs.

265. A Pair. Villagers Merry-making. The scene exhibits
the open part or green of a hamlet, in Flanders, and is distin-
guished from other pictures of the same subject by a monument,
composed of a square pedestal, surmounted by a pyramid. On
the centre of the fore-ground are three artisans, standing in
conversation together; a joyous company of villagers are near
a cottage in the second distance; on the right are five of them
dancing in a ring, while others either look on or are enjoying
the social pipe.
Collection of M. Desensans, (singly) 1802. 160 gs.
■-—• Hart Davies, Esq., . 1814.165 gs.
A picture, corresponding with the above description, is in the col-
lection of J. Newington Hughes, Esq.

266. The Companion. A Landscape, with a thatched cot-
tage on the right, to which is attached a boarded fence; five
persons are at a table, smoking and drinking ; a large tree
stands in the middle; a road branches out to various parts of the
country, and some buildings are seen on an eminence.
l/Z. 4 in. by %st. 2 in.—P.
Collection os the Count de Merle, . 1784. (the pr.) 4860fs. 194Z.

267. An Interior, with two figures. An old woman at her
spinning wheel; and a man, winding thread.
I/Z. 21 in. by 11^ in.—P.
Collection of the Count de Merle, . 1784. . 1181J7. 47/.