1827.] The Carlton-House Pictures. 43 



At the head of the class of masters just named stands Teniers ; and wo 

 know not where else to point out to the student, in one collection, so many 

 truly admirable and characteristic examples of this hitherto, upon the 

 whole, unrivalled artist. We have thirteen of his works, including exqui- 

 site specimens of all his various styles. Perhaps the finest, because the 

 most natural, forcible, and unaffected work of Teniers in this collection, 

 is one representing an open sea-shore, with a group of fishermen in front. 

 Nothing was ever executed in a more spirited and efficient manner than 

 this scene, because nothing was ever more absolutely simple and true. The 

 handling is masterly for its happy facility; the tone and colouring give us 

 the very reflection of nature itself; and the attitudes and characters of the 

 persons introduced complete and perfect the illusion. In standing before 

 the picture, you seem to taste the freshness of the sea-breeze; and may 

 almost fancy that you smell the peculiar odour appertaining to the kind of 

 scene before you. 



There is another picture belonging to the same class with the above, 

 which is not equally fine, but still excellent for the air of natural truth 

 which pervades it. It is a domestic landscape, with buildings, &c. ; and 

 in the front, portraits are introduced of the artist himself, with his wife, and 

 their favourite gardener. 



In a different style, we have no less than five of the same artist's admi- 

 rable Village Fetes and Merry-makings. Every one of these may be looked 

 upon as a chef-d'ceuvre of the master, in this peculiar style. Each of them 

 includes such a variety of character, incident, and interest, that it would 

 require as much space adequately to describe the five, as we are enabled to 

 devote to the whole collection. We must, therefore, merely add that they 

 contain some hundreds of figures, not one of which but includes something 

 distinct and individual, and yet every one of which bears, mixed up with 

 its natural air, a something which could only have been communicated to 

 it originally by the hand of this artist ; and that all is expressed by meaa; 

 of the most masterly freedom of handling, the utmost clearness, sweetness, 

 and natural beauty of colouring, and in connexion with a skill and facility 

 of composition and arrangement which never have been, or perhaps can bo, 

 surpassed. 



In addition to the above, we have two most admirable specimens of this 

 master's still-life interiors in which ease and labour are blended in a won- 

 derfully efficient manner. One represents a Woman peeling Turnips, and 

 surrounded by vegetables of every kind, culinary utensils, &c ; and the 

 other, an Alehymist in his Study. Besides these, we have two or three 

 exquisite little gems, almost on a miniature-scale, yet retaining all the 

 truth and spirit of the larger works. Upon the whole, the extraordinary 

 talents of Teniers are done full justice to in this collection. 



The rest of the Flemish painters of what may be called real life-^-such 

 as Ostade, Jan Steen, G. Dow, F. and W. Mieris, Metzu, Terburg, 

 Schalken, Slingelandt, &c., are represented respectively by two or 

 three of their most pleasing works, but assuredly not by any of their 

 chef-d'&uvrcs. We have certainly seen much more striking and cha- 

 racteristic works by all the above-named artists, than those which we meet 

 with in this collection. Indeed, there are but very few of such surpassing 

 merit as to claim particular mention. Jan Steen has two or three excel- 

 lent Merry-makings, and a brilliant Interior of a Lady's Dressing- Room. 

 There is one admirable specimen of Ostade of Travellers Regaling at an 

 Inn-Door. Metzu has several in particular, a Gentleman playing on a 

 Violoncello, and an interesting portrait of himself; but not one which 

 seems to us adequately to illustrate that exquisite freedom and facility of 



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