IX. LANDSCAPES. 198 A LANDSCAPE, TERMINATING WITH THE SEA, To the left upon an eminence is a cow, and at some distance, a man with a load upon his back; below this figure is another man, of whom only the upper part is discovered; at the foot of the eminence is a third figure walking, covered with a long garment. This piece may be regarded as presque-unique. 210-41% 199 A LANDSCAPE WITH A HOUSE AND A LARGE TREE BY IT. To the left is a house with a casement open, through which appears the upper part of a figure. A great tree grows up by the side of the house, and near the middle of the print is a clump of trees, at the foot of which runs a river; and on the right, are some mountains. This piece is very scarce. This plate was produced by an incident which de- serves to be related. macy with the Burgomaster Six, and was frequently at his country-seat. One day when they were there together, the servant came to acquaint them that dinner was ready; but as they were sitting down to table, they perceived that mustard was wanting: the Burgomaster immediately ordered his servant to go into the village and buy some. Rembrandt, who knew the sluggishness of the Dutch servants, and that when they answer, austons, a coming, they are half an hour before they appear; offered the Burgomaster a wager, that he would etch a plate before his man returned with the mustard. Six accepted the wager, and Rembrandt, who had always plates at hand ready varnished, immediately took one up, and scratched upon it the landscape which appeared from the window of the parlour in which they were sitting. The plate was finished before the servant came back, and Rembrandt won his wager. The etching is slight, but it is a wonderful performance, considering the circumstance that produced it. In the middle of the piece, is a wooden bridge, such as is usually seen in Holland over canals. Two men are standing upon the right side of it, leaning against the rails, and conversing together; below them appears the canal, on which is a vessel that extends to the right side of the print. In the distance, is a village, in which is a church with a spire steeple, which is seen under the boughs of two trees that are growing on the left side of the bridge. At the end of the vil lage to the right, a vessel is sailing. In the bottom at the right corner is written Rembrandt f. 1645. This piece is very scarce. 510 - 81% 201 VIEW OF OMVAL, NEAR AMSTERDAM. This subject is well chosen, and finely executed. On the fore-ground to the left, is a clump of trees; one of them is the venerable trunk of a large tree which appears to be nearly dead. On a bank, amongst these trees, a young couple are sitting. The youth is putting a garland on the head of the young woman. To the right of the trees, stands a peasant seen from behind, looking at a covered barge, full of people, sailing on the river. Over the river is seen the village of Omval; before it lie several boats, and to the right are two windmills. At the right corner, at the bottom is written Rembrant, 1645, the d being omitted. It is scarce. 202 A VIEW OF AMSTERDAM. This piece is executed in a good stile, with a very fine point. The fore-ground is a marsh. The river Amstel crosses the print; beyond it, Amsterdam is seen in a point of view which exhibits many churches; and to the right several windmills. In the centre, a large double roofed building, with a windmill near it, particularly attract the eye. To the left lie the shipping. This piece is scarce. 203 THE SPORTSMAN. The composition of this landscape is in a grand stile, and it is executed in a slight, but spirited manner. In a broad high way, in the middle of the print, a sportsman approaches with a staff on his left shoulder, leading a brace of greyhounds in a leash. Close to the right is a large tree, on which two birds are alighting. On an eminence on the left, are two figures, one standing, the other sitting on the ground. In the left corner are two ducks swimming. The distance, which is not very remote, is terminated by mountains, on the side of which, to the left, are some magnificent buildings. At the foot of the mountains, is a village, in which is a large church, with a spire steeple. 510 - 6,35 Of this there are two impressions. In the first, which is extremely rare, the house and barn to the right of the two figures, are not inserted. 204 THE THREE TREES. This is a very fine landscape; known by this name, because to the right on an eminence, is a singular group of three trees; through which, on a rising ground, is perceived a waggon, full of peasants, part of which is intercepted by the trunk of the right hand tree, and some houses are likewise intercepted by the trunk of the middle tree. In the left front, is a large piece of water; on the other side of it on a bank, stands a man who is angling: a woman is sitting near him. In the distance is a large town, with se veral churches in it, and between the piece of water and the town, are several groups of cattle and figures. The sky is covered with dark clouds, and a shower of rain is falling to the left. Beneath some water weeds on the left, near the bottom, is written Rembrandt f. 1643. This piece is esteemed the best and most finished of all the landscapes of Rembrandt; it is executed in a good stile, and produces a great effect. A fine impression is very scarce. 8,4 II 205 THE PEASANT CARRYING THE MILK PAILS. He is seen to the right, carrying two milk pails with a yoke, and a dog running by him; near the middle is a road, and fronting it a cottage, and a Dutch barn. On the left are some cottages nearly surrounded with trees, and close to them a canal with a boat upon it, fastened to the bank. To the left above the cottages, some mountains are discovered in the distance. To the right the sea is seen, with several ships sailing. This landscape is highly finished in a fine taste, and is very scarce. 21% -6,1% There are two impressions of it. In the first, which is extremely rare, the mountains on the left side are not introduced; and the canal is less shaded. 206 A LANDSCAPE LIGHTLY ETCHED, AND WASHED WITH INDIAN INK. In the front to the left, is a canal seen in perspective, and in the distance the sea; near the middle on the border of this canal, are two houses surrounded with trees, the roofs of which are pretty high; and |