DUTCH SCHOOL. oooooooooo G. NETSCHER. oooooooo DRESDEN GALLERY.

GASPARD NETSCHER

AND HIS WIFE.

It is presumable that this picture represents a married couple playing music; but, though the man may resemble the artist, Gaspard Netscher, it is easy to show that this picture is erroneously considered as being the portraits of Netscher and his wife.

The carpet that covers the window-sill, displays the beginning of the word, ANNO, and the termination of the date MDCLV; now Netscher, at that time, was only sixteen years old, and it was but in 1659 that he married the daughter of an inhabitant of Liege, named Godyn.

No doubt these portraits were strong likenesses, and though this merit is now lost, for us, the picture is not the less precious, both for its brilliant effect, and the care with which it is finished. The two personages are placed in a pleasing manner, and the carpet, ornamenting the window, presents a diversity of colour, that in no manner injures the general effect. This small picture, painted on wood, is in the Dresden Gallery it has been engraved by E. Kruger.

Height, 19 inches; width, 15 inches.