Viewing page 34 of 52

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-3-
I shall first of all mention the Paintings. These were not collected with the idea of forming a picture gallery but although they were selected to harmoniously blend with the other objects so as to produce a resplendent effect within the entire unit, even an intimate friend of the collection will be newly surprised each time because of their importance and number. Of the early epoch there is a charming little plate by Isenbrant, and of the Dutch painters of the Seventeenth Century Jan van Goyen is represented by an excellent masterpiece: a most beautiful river landscape with castle and ferry. This picture forms a transition to the paintings of the Eighteenth Century and to the masters of France, England, Italy, and Germany. Among the French painters Pater's famous: "Embarkment" holds the first place, - in this picture the artist does not only vie with Watteau as to the matter itself but also as to artistic quality. Exceptional delicacy and intimacy are combined in Nattier's portrait of his daughter; Greuze surprises by his powerful and solid art. Madame VigéeLeBrun shows in the pictures of Monsieur and Madame de Valesque, painted in 1776, especially so in the portrait of the gentleman an almost astounding strength and power of conception. The Italians of that epoch are charmingly represented by Tiepolo and Guardi, the English painters by characteristic pictures among which by the side of the beautiful half-length portrait of a Miss Stuart by Reynolds is seen Henry Walton's elegant interieur with a charmingly portrayed young lady, a picture of rare delicacy. And, finally, there is a masterpiece of highest order