DUTCII SCHOOL. corocco. P. POTTER. 000000

HERMITAGE GAL.

LANDSCAPE.

A Dutch coltage, surrounded by a few trees, ornaments the right of the picture, whilst on the left, is seen a meadow of great extent, in which several beasts are feeding.

The front of the piece is occupied by cows, sheep, goats, several horses, an ass, a dog, a cat and some fowls; the diversity of the kinds, the variety of their positions, the correctness of their attitudes, and of their actions, convey an exact idea of the talent Paul Potter possessed, for exactly depicting nature. It should be stated, that this picture was demanded of him by the princess Amelia de Solin mother of Prince Maurice d'Orleans protector of Paul Potter. The Painter however, accustomed to live in the midst of flocks, represented in his picture a cow staling. The princess conceiving that there was something indecent in this action, would not have it continually before her, and therefore parted with it, since which, it remained a long time in the family of M. Mustart, Alderman of the City of Amsterdam, it afterwards fell into the hands of a picture dealer called Van Biesum, who sold it to M. Jacques Van Hoech. It since formed part of the cabinet of the Prince of Hesse, and is now at Saint Petersburgh in the Gallery of the Hermitage. It has been executed in lithography in 1829 by M. G. Vollinger. Breadth, 3 feet 2 inches ; height, 2 feet 9

inches.

a

ECOLE HOLLANDAISE. - PAUL POTTER. - GAL. DE L

L'ERMIT.

PAYSAGE,

LA VACHE QUI PISSE.

Une chaumière hollandaise , entourée de quelques arbres , orne la droite du tableau , tandis qu'à gauche se voit une prairie fort étendue dans la quelle 'paissent ou se reposent plusieurs bestiaux.

Le devant du tableau est occupé par des vaches, des moutons et des chèvres, plusieurs chevaux, un âne, un chien , un chat et des poules ; la diversité des espèces , la variété de leurs poses et la vérité de leurs actions donnent une idée exacte du talent de Paul Potter, pour bien saisir et bien rendre la nature.

On doit dire que ce tableau lui avait été demandé par la princesse Amélie de Solm, mère du prince Maurice d’Orange, protecteur de Paul Potter. Mais le peintre, habitué à vivre au milieu des troupeaux, representa dans son tableau une vache qui pisse. La princesse , croyant apercevoir quelque chose d'indécent dans cette action , ne voulut pas avoir ce tableau sans cesse sous les yeux ; elle s'en défit donc. Depuis il est resté long-temps dans la famille de M. Mussart, échevin de la ville d'Amsterdam ; il passa ensuite entre les mains d'un marchand de tableaux nommé Van Biesum , qui le vendit à M. Jacques Van Hoeck. Il fit ensuite partie du cabinet du prince de Hesse , et se voit maintenant à Saint-Pétersbourg dans la galerie de l'Ermitage.

Il a été lithographie en 1829 , par M. J. Vollinger.
Larg. 3 pieds ; Haut. & pieds 7 pouces.

When the violence of Tarquin against Lucretia bad determined the Romans to dethrone their King, and the City bad adopted the Republican form of Government, Brutus, the brother in law of Tarquin, and Collatinus the husband of Lucretia , were named Consuls ; bnt even in the army á conspiracy having been formed to recal the former King, the two Consuls had the misfortune to see on the list of the conspirators names, the one, those of his nephews , and the other, those of his sons, Collatinus endeavoured to save his nephews whilst Brutus condemned his two sons himself, and caused them to be executed in his

presence. Having entered his house , the severity of the Consul naturally gave way to palernal feelings, whilst seated at the leet of the statue of Rome, Brutus is at length roused from bis sad reflections, by the noise which the funeral of his sons occasion, whom they are about to place in the family lomb. At the sight of their bleeding remains, the wife of Brulus has risen from her seat; one of her daughters looks with affright on this painful spectacle, whilst the other falls insensible into the arms of her mother.

All the talent of David was requisite to render completely, characters and expression so different. The countenance of Brulus placed in the shade , presents beauties of a severe kind. The opposite group by the attitudes of the persons , although beautiful , inspires at the same time profound melancholy.

This picture which appeared at the exhibition of 1789 has since been engraved by Alexander Morel. Breadth , 13 feet 10 inches; height, io feet 8 inches.