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 (Band 9): Supplement (London: Smith and Son, 1842)

JAN STEEN.

501

71. The Offer rejected. A young woman standing at the
half-door of a house, listening to the proposals of a well-
dressed old man, whose expression and gesture evince the
nature of his address, but which is refused with disdain.

72. (The Companion). A Young Man approaching a
house, at the half-door of which stands an elderly woman with
a bag of money in her hand, with which she appears to tempt
him, and at the same time has taken hold of his mantle ;
but her allurements are rejected with a smile.
9 in. by 7.—P. (oval.}
Sold in the Collection of Mr. Kleynenberg, Leyden, 1841.
Sold by Messrs. Smith to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere.

73. The Marriage Contract. In the centre of a large
room are a lady and gentleman (the parents of the bride)
seated at a table, dictating to a lawyer the conditions of the
marriage contract, while the happy couple, wholly indifferent
to the passing event, stand on the right in close conversa-
tion ; at the same time, a man, with an air of drollery, is
significantly drawing a spigot from a cask. Three other
persons are seen in a retired part of the room, preparing for
the nuptial banquet. A green curtain is suspended from the
ceiling. Described from the catalogue.
4st. 6 by 6 st.—C.
In the Collection of the Duke of Brunswick.
The preceding corresponds in composition with No. 155,
but differs materially in size. There is also in the fine Col-
lection of Madame Hoffman at the Hague, a picture of the
same subject and composition, size 3 st. 4 by 4/7.—C. This
corresponds with the print by C. Baguoy.