254 • anecdotes of Adrian Broor. -^"S- ^^ 



resources which they would have procured him. Infornied 

 at last by his comrades of the price of his pictures, he esca- 

 ped more effectually than the first time, and took refuge in. 

 the city of Amsterdam, where he arrived without friends or 

 money. His good stars conducted him to an honest seller 

 of pictures, who granted him an asylum. One may guels- 

 with what pleasure Broor learned that his works were 

 known in Amsterdam, and that they sold for a considerable 

 price. ' 



He would have perhaps doubted it, if an anjateur had not 

 given him about an hundred ducats for one ofjiis pictures. 

 As soon as Broor, who had demanded that sum trembling, 

 saw himself in pofsefsion of so much money, he spread it. 

 out upon his bed, transported with joy, and rolled himself 

 upon it. 



Ten days pafsed in a debauch with the people of the very 

 lowest sort, who soon made him find the bottom of his purse.- 

 He then came back, rejoiced and content, to the picture- 

 merchant where he lodged, who asking him what he had- 

 done with his money : " I have got happily rid of it," said- 

 he, " in order to be more free." 



This alternative between labour and difslpation was his 

 constant plan of conduct all the rest of his life. He ne- 

 ver dreamed of taking the pencil until he had no more 

 money. He was continually involving himself in drun- 

 ken quarrels with the dregs of the populace, after having 

 drank freely with them. His work Ihop was generally 

 in an inn, where he was often obliged to send his works to. 

 sell to the amateurs, to pay his expence. 



Broor gave himself up with such enthusiasm when at 

 work, that he was often heard sptaking Spanifh, Italian, 

 and French, as if he had been with the persons whom he 

 was ].ainti..g, 



