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.

505

fellow with half a glass of liquor, and a lemon on a waiter ;
a woman is also stooping near a pump with a muscle in her
hand ; and near the door of the place stands a man ap-
parently inviting a fat and well-fed neighbour to enter.
These are free and slight productions of the master.
Imported by Mr. Chaplin.
For Pictures of the same subjects as the preceding, see Nos. 64,
65, 66, Vol. iv.

83. The Fat Family. The scene exhibits the interior of a
well furnished kitchen, in the centre of which are five per-
sons arranged round a table decked with a variety of tempt-
ing viands ; their portly appearance indicates the effects of
the continual good cheer which has attended them. Jan
Steen has here introduced himself as a fiddler, joyously con-
tributing to the mirth of the feast, and laughing heartily at
an immensely fat fellow with a bald head, who stands in the
centre drinking off his glass.
11 in. by 15.—P.
Collection of the late Mons. Schamps, 1840, 3050 fr., and 7% per
cent. (131Z.)
Bought by Mons. Tanse.

84. (The Companion). The Starved Family. The room,
the furniture, and the diet, exhibit the abject poverty of the
wretched occupants. Seated on an old cask on the left, is
the father of the family (styled Jan Steen in the catalogue),
in the act of distributing, with a sinewy hand, some muscles
placed on the table before him, which his wife, as meager as
himself, receives in a plate. On the right are two children
struggling together for some object; and near the supposed
artist, are miserable beings watching with envious eyes the
distribution of the muscles; while a fourth exhibits with a