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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN CASSELL,

LA BELLE SAUVAGE YARD, LUDGATE-HILL;

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SPLENDID PICTORIAL PUBLICATION-THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS.

TOMB OF NAPOLEON.-40 BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS, EXECUTED IN THE FIRST STYLE OF ART!!

OCTOBER 1, will be published, price SIXPENCE,

THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS.

PART III.

This Part will contain Specimens of the skill of the celebrated Artists to whom has been entrusted the erections and embellishments of the TOMB OF NAPOLEON I. under the Cupola of the Invalides. There will be upwards of Forty Illustrations, including specimens of the sculpture of some of the Great Masters of the reign of Louis XIV., as well as Etex, Pradier, &c. They are engraved in the first style of art. Among them are the following:-External View of the Dome of the Hotel des Invalides-Section of the Church, the Dome, the Crypt, and the Tomb-General View of the Entrance of the Crypt and of the Tomb, with the Tombs of Duroc and Bertrand on either side-Entrance to the Tomb, with the two funeral Genii-Interior View of the Crypt and Tomb-Several beautiful Caryatides with their entablature-Ten fine Bas-reliefs-Entrance and Interior of the Reliquary-Statue of Napoleon-The Sarcophagus-Ground Plans, Mosaics, &c. &c. With a detailed description of the whole, carefully drawn up from authentic documents.

THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS, PART I., price SIXPENCE, contains the following named Engravings:-Portrait of Jan Steen, and Seven Specimens of his Works, namely, The Skittle Players-The Aged Invalid-Grace before Meat-The Dancing Dog-The Parrotalso, the Cascade di Terni, by J. M. Turner; Landscape, after R. Wilson; Dogs, from Sir E. Landseer; Sancho and the Physician, from J. Leslie; Dogs, from Desportes; the Proscribed Royalist, from J. E. Millais; and two from W. Hogarth; with Biographical Notices of the Artists, &c.

THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS, PART II., price SIXPENCE, contains a Portrait of PAUL BRIL, and Four Specimens of his Works, namely, Diana and her Nymphs-Duck Shooting-A Forest Scene-A Cottage; also, Melancholy, by Albert Durer; Wreck of the Medusa, by Gericault; The Beggar Boy, by Murillo; Paul Preaching at Ephesus, by Eustace Le Sueur; Portrait of William Van der Velde, and Five Specimens of his Works, namely, A_Calm-Rough Weather A Flotilla-A Fresh Breeze-A Boat; The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Jouvenet; A Family Scene, by Fragonard; The Orphan Bird, by Burnet; with Biographical Notices of the Artists, &c.

October 1st, will be published, the FIRST QUARTERLY SECTION of THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS, containing the First Three Parts, price 1s. 6d. in a neat Wrapper.

THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS will, as it proceeds, reveal the Artistic treasures of Europe as contained in the various Public and Private Galleries of different Nations. Some of these Galleries are as "fountains sealed" to the majority, and others are only accessible at the expense of much form and ceremony, and a considerable portion of time. The contents of some of them have, it is true, been published, but at a price which places them beyond the reach of the mass of the people. The object of the Proprietor and Publisher of THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS is to supply this desideratum; and he rejoices that he has the means of placing within the reach of the humblest individual a Work of unparalleled beauty and excellence. His aim in this enterprise is to keep pace with the important movements recently made to beget and foster a love for the beautiful in Art-to place before the humble but aspiring art-student models which he may profitably imitate, and to encourage and stimulate the improved and improving taste of the present age.

THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS will include Specimens of the performances of those who, at different periods, and in various countries, have distinguished themselves as Masters, whether in Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Decorative Art. These will be accompanied, in most instances, with Portraits and Biographical Notices of the Artists.

A VOLUME of THE WORKS OF EMINENT MASTERS will be completed yearly, containing the Twelve Parts issued Monthly. The materials have been selected with the greatest care, and no expense has been spared as to the machinery, or as to anything requisite for producing a Work of the highest merit-a Work which will be sure to commend itself to every lover of Fine Art.

THE

HISTORICAL

EDUCATOR.

Travels of Herodotus in Egypt and the East-History of America, by Mary Howitt-History of Greece, by E. L. Godkin-Complete Chronological Tables, &c. &c.

IN WEEKLY NUMBERS, TWOPENCE EACH.

The Publication of this most interesting and important Work will commence October 1, and will be continued Weekly. It will also be issued in Monthly Parts, price 9d., or when containing Five Numbers, 11d.

THE

HISTORICAL EDUCATOR

Will form a UNIVERSAL HISTORY, and will, as it proceeds, open up to the People rich stores of knowledge hitherto accessible but to a privileged few. The History of Geography, or the Discoveries made by eminent Travellers and Voyagers, will be a most interesting Department, the collection of the materials for which has engaged the labour of several years. The Engravings for the illustration of the Chapters in this course will involve an outlay of more than Two THOUSAND POUNDS. The Work will be divided into Departments, as follows:

L-THE HISTORY OF DISCOVERY,

Commencing with the Voyages and Travels of HERODOTUS, whom Cicero called the "Father of History," and whose investigations into the Origin and History of Nations, written about 450 years before the commencement of the Christian Era, caused him to be known and greatly admired throughout Greece.

II. THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, from its First Discovery by Columbus,

This portion of the Work has been entrusted to that charming and popular writer, Mrs. MARY HOWITT, whose aim it will be to render it peculiarly interesting to the young, at the same time furnishing ample information to all who desire a perfect knowledge of the rise, progress, and present condition of a country allied to Great Britain by so many endearing recollections.

III. THE HISTORY OF GREECE, ANCIENT AND MODERN.

This is entrusted to EDWIN L. GODKIN, Esq., Author of the " Popular History of Hungary," &c.
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This Department will comprise a compendious outline of General History, from the Creation to the present time, including Remarkable Events,
Discoveries and Inventions, and the Era, Country, and Writings of Learned Men.

LITERATURE.

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The entire Work will include the Discoveries of the most ancient Travellers and Voyagers, as well as the records of modern Travellers and Voyagers, relating to the present state of those countries which figured most conspicuously in Ancient History, and which have left upon them an impress of their greatness, exciting the admiration of successive generations.

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September 16 will be published, in One Handsome Volume, Super-royal Octavo, price 5s. 6d., in cloth boards,

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF HUNGARY AND THE MAGYARS,

From the Earliest Period, to the Close of the late War.
BY EDWIN LAWRENCE GODKIN.

This Volume will be Illustrated with One Hundred highly-finished Engravings, including representations of the principal Battles; Portraits of the early Kings, and of the Statesmen and Generals who figured in the War of Independence; Costumes of the Peasantry, &c.; Views of the Chief Towns and Fortresses, &c.; with an accurate Description of the Manners and Customs of the People, their Literature, Commerce, Arts, &c. This Work may also be had in Twenty-four Weekly Numbers, price Twopence each, or Four Parts, One Shilling each.

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HOURRAKEN, who was for a short time the contemporary of
Jan Steen, has represented this artist to us as a free drinker,

and relates of him such numerous excesses and ludicrous traits of character as to have given him in history the reputaVOL. I.

tion of a confirmed drunkard and buffoon. All those who have spoken of Jan Steen, since Houbraken, have, in imitation of his biographer, repeated the jokes of the celebrated painter, so that they have become proverbial, especially in Holland. But, for want of having carefully studied his works, and in consequence of the practice, common to almost all book-makers, of copying one from the other, without making any sort of independent inquiry or research, the biographers have given us a false idea of the Dutch painter, in describing him as a man who was capable of nothing better than drinking and jesting. His private affairs, rather than his art, appear to have engaged their attention-they concerned themselves too much with what took place in his household, and did not rightly comprehend what passed in his mind.

It is, doubtless, quite true that Jan Steen lived at the alehouse, and ended by turning his own dwelling into a tavern. This view of his life should not, however, prevent us from descrying his real merits, or from allowing, that though a freeliver, he was also a philosopher, a profound and acute observer, and able to raise himself without effort to the conception of beauty. Possessed of much comic power, he was skilful in portraying diversities of character, and in reproving the follies of mankind,-not with bitterness, but gaily, as it becomes a man who laughs both at the great and petty miseries of life.

Among the numerous biographical works of Arnold Houbraken-which are for the most part without interest, detail, or colour,-that of the life of Jan Steen is remarkable. One

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h130

feels that this writer, although younger than Jan Steen by twenty-four years, knew the man of whom he speaks, and derived the elements of his biography from a good source. He informs us that Jan Steen was born in 1636 at Leyden, in Holland, and that he was the contemporary and friend of Mieris. His master was Jan Van Goyen, under whose instruction he made great progress. Whilst he excited the admiration of this painter by the rapidity with which his talents developed themselves, he insinuated himself into his good graces, and eventually Van Goyen became so partial to him, that he granted him entire liberty in his house, and allowed him to live there on terms of the greatest intimacy. Van Goyen had a daughter, named Margaret, an indolent and simple, but very pretty girl, who, from being much amused by the continual jokes of Jan Steen, came at last to be far from indifferent to him. The affection of the youthful painter for the damsel being thus reciprocated, they agreed to marry, if the consent of their parents could be obtained. It naturally became the lover's task to communicate with the father of the young lady; and an opportunity was sought to accomplish this object. When he had finished his work in the atelier, he was accustomed to go in the evening to drink beer with Van Goyen. One day, finding the old man in a tolerably good humour, Jan Steen gently accosted him, although not without some hesitation. 64 "I have," said he, some news to tell you which will surprise you as much as if you were to hear the thunder rumble at Cologne. Your daughter and I, since it must be told, have an affection for each other; and, if you do not consider me unworthy, I shall be much honoured in becoming your son-in-law." Van Goyen, though rather surprised at this speech, for he had never thought of such a thing as his daughter's "falling in love," comprehended at once the force of Steen's argument, and that his resistance would only aggravate his pupil and his daughter. So, like a good father, he acceded with a good grace to the proposition of Jan Steen. But the latter did not find his own father, Havik Jan Steen, quite so easy to deal with. He was a brewer, established at Delft; a practical man, less sensible to the power of love than to the value of ready money. It was long before he would consent that his son should marry at an age when he was not in a condition to maintain a family by his labour. However, after much entreaty, he at last yielded to the pressing solicitations of Jan, and agreed that the nuptials should be celebrated. But, that his son might be in a fair pecuniary position, he built a brewery at Delft, where he established the newly-married couple, with a capital of 10,000 florins. Steen, finding himself in possession of ready money, and considering it but natural to spend it, thought only of leading a joyous life; and Margaret, on her part, constitutionally indolent, neither attended to her domestic duties nor to her counter.

66

Je laisse à penser la vie

Que firent nos deux amis.

It may easily be imagined that affairs managed by two persons of this temperament could not long continue in good condition. Margaret," says Campo Weyerman, "kept no account-book; all the beer that was taken on credit from the house was set down in chalk upon a slate or a wooden board. Now it happened one day that, being accused of having defrauded the rights of the town-due, Jan Steen was summoned by the excise officer to show his books. The slate was produced, but no one could make any thing of it, not even Margaret Steen, who had left it all in confusion, and who was not in the habit of giving any thought to what she had written down. Nevertheless, a heavy fine was exacted, but, as the brewery was on the eve of its ruin, Jan Steen, laughing heartily, reminded the exciseman that, where there is nothing, the devil loses his right and the king too."

The artist-brewer was on the point of being forced to close his house when his father came to his assistance. But this only delayed the ruin of Jan Steen. Margaret confessed one morning to her jovial husband that there was absolutely nothing left in his cellar, neither beer nor casks, and that there

was scarcely corn enough to make a cake. It was all over. Jan Steen saw the ruin of his brewery, for a second time, with an undisturbed mien, and was even the first to joke about his disaster. After all, said he to himself, here is a picture all ready; and, remembering that he was a painter, he set to work and depicted in a spirited composition the disorder of his house. This picture represents a room in which every thing is in confusion, the furniture is upset, the dog licks the saucepan, the cat runs off with the bacon, the children are sprawling on the floor, and the mother, seated in an arm-chair, calmly contemplates this delightful scene, whilst Jan Steen stands philosophically holding a glass in his hand.

This was our artist's first picture, and it is not astonishing that he, a painter of what are called conversation pieces, should have taken as his subject the scene which passed before his eyes. Those who have the genius to observe, look first at the objects which immediately surround them. But all biographers are much mistaken in saying that Jan Steen painted himself in all his works; and that almost all his compositions represent ale-house scenes, coarse farces or smokingrooms, full of topers. Nothing is further from the truth, as is proved by the works of this painter. Jan Steen has always allowed his sly humour to peep out of his pictures, but it is an exception when he has painted the customs of his life. When will the mania cease for copying from books without inquiring into the truth of their statements? Even in our days, that is to say, in a time in which the spirit of criticism is more than ever developed and exercised, we perceive this fault in some very valuable books, written by regular authors no less than by amateurs. For instance, in Smith's Catalogue, so exact and truthful in all that concerns the description of the pictures of each master, the author, repeating what the biographers have successively said, does not fail to observe that Jan Steen was the painter of his own manners and those of the society in which he lived. And this is even more surprising, because this preliminary notice is followed by a long catalogue of the known works of Jan Steen, and among more than 300 compositions, which are there described, only thirty have drunkenness for the subject, and the alc-house for the scene. This master takes the subjects of his pictures almost entirely from human life; we mean life considered from a comic point of view, from the side which amuses philosophers and good-tempered observers.

Another modern writer, M. Immerzeel,* remarking, doubtless, that the works of Jan Steen had little relation to the circumstances of his life, as Houbraken and Campo Weyerman assert, has resolutely contested the assertions of the historians of his country, without giving any other reason than the startling contrast between the habits of a dissolute man and pictures so delicate, sometimes even so elegant, as those of Jan Steen. But how are we to deny facts which have been repeatedly affirmed and related in detail by a contemporary of Jan Steen, when such a denial is without proof, and really rests only upon a presumption, in itself very contestable? In short, is it inadmissible that a professed drinker may have refinement of mind, delicacy of feeling and the talent of observation? And even if genius were always incompatible with the sad propensity to drunkenness, what becomes of the observation of M. Immerzeel, opposed to the authority of a biographer, who, for more than a century, has not been contradicted, at least on this point? Yes, Jan Steen was what the world calls a joyous toper, who went through life laughing-not with that coarse laugh which is only the gaiety of fools, but with that delicate, intelligent, and slightly sardonic smile which is the sportiveness of philosophers. He passed his life in observing men for his own amusement, and in painting for theirs. Nobody had a more communicative jovialty; and it is impossible to contemplate one of his pictures without feeling one's heart expand. He was the first to laugh at that bottle which he kept continually by his side, and which doubtless sustained

De levens en werken der hollandsche en vlaamsche Kunstschilders. Amsterdam, 1842.

his Rabelaisian humour, although continually emptying and refilling it. And it is remarkable that, when he happened to represent drunken people, he never failed to ridicule their drunkenness; thus he seemed to preach temperance with the glass in his hand. Take, as an example of this curious fact, the celebrated picture, which was in the celebrated collection of Mr. Beckford; it is entitled, "The Effects of Intemperance." The artist has there painted himself, with his interesting and pretty wife, in the state of drowsiness which follows too frequent libations. She, dressed in a red jacket edged with ermine, over a silk petticoat, is seated in the middle of the room, as it becomes the mistress of the house. While the husband and wife sleep, others profit by their intoxication. The children are searching in their mother's pocket, and already a little boy has pulled forth a piece of money, which he holds aloft in his hand with a triumphant air; another holds a glass in his hand, which he appears about to dash to the ground and shiver in pieces. The servant of the house hastens to profit by so favourable a moment to declare his passion to a young girl, sliding into her hand some money, which no doubt he had also stolen. The dog seizes upon a pie; the cat breaks a china vase, in endeavouring to spring upon a cage containing a bird; the monkey amuses himself with some parchments and books; on the ground, scattered pell-mell, are silver dishes, broken glasses, a violin, a Bible, a china plate, and, as if the elements themselves must interfere, the fire is burning a goose which is on the spit.

Jan Steen has treated this subject several times, and a different version of it may be found among the valuable pictures in the collection formed by the late Duke of Wellington, at Apsley House. The monkey in this instance plays with the clock, as if, says Dr. Waagen, to show that the happy do not count the hours. But such a lesson given to drunkards has nothing pedantic, thanks to the good humour with which the painter has represented himself. Jan Steen, being a witty man, who wishes to continue amusing, bears on his own back the burden of human caprices and follies.

The picture called the " Young Gallant" (page 4) gives us the whole style and manner of Jan Steen in a single composi tion. It consists of six figures, sitting or standing round a table, on which are some eggs in a dish. A man in a chair at the left-front of the picture is talking to a dog, while on the opposite side a young fellow comes dancing in from the open doorway, holding a mackerel up by the tail, and carrying a few young onions in the other hand. The mistress of the house looks smilingly up from her seat, and another woman, standing at the table, desists from her household duties, and looks a smiling welcome to the young gallant. A man standing by the bedside points to another going out at the door, probably the "good man" of the establishment. The entire composition-the candle-chandelier, decorated with flowers in token of the summer weather; the pipe stuck in the hat of the sitting figure, in the way our waggoners wear them even in this day; the heavy close-curtained bed, the bare room, the expectant dog looking up to the susper...ed fish, and the sunlight streaming in from window and garden doorway, bespeak a thoughtfulness for general effect and picturesque arrangement entirely Jan Steen's. This has been considered one of the best of his genre paintings.

In 1669, after his ill success as a brewer, he set up as a tavern-keeper. Old Havik Jan being just dead, Jan Steen came into possession of a house at Leyden. This induced him to leave the town of Delft, and to establish himself under the paternal roof; and there it was that he opened his tavern. He placed a sign-post before his door; and, as if he wished to effect a reconciliation with his creditors, he painted as the sign, a picture representing the figure of Peace, holding an olive-branch. Houbraken tells us he was his own best customer, and that he did not succeed better in this new occupation as brewer and tavern-keeper, though he possessed all the gaiety, all the animation, which attracts customers to an alehouse. He was, probably, better able to induce them to drink than to pay. Most of those who frequented his house were painters as poor as himself. Franz Mieris, Ary de Vos,

Quiering, Brackelenkamp, and Jan Lievens were among those who resorted there, day and night; for Jan Steen never shut his door, that he might show his friends that he was not afraid, and because, having little to lose, he could laugh in the face of thieves. His cellar being soon emptied, he was obliged to take down his sign. In this extremity the painter came to the help of the tavern-keeper. The wine-merchant not being willing to give him credit any longer, Steen presented him with a little picture—in Holland every one likes painting— and the merchant sent a puncheon of wine in exchange. The sign re-appeared-Steen's friends re-assembled to listen to his facetious stories, and the band of painters, who had turned out, hastened back, resolved not to leave the place while a drop of liquor remained in Master Jan's taps. But the cask did not last long, and this time it was necessary to close the tavern entirely.

Campo Weyerman, a facetious writer, who has sought out sarcastic expressions, some of which are marked by the grossest triviality, has enlarged upon the life of Jan Steen, and related numerous anecdotes, interspersed with coarse jokes, in which the piquancy especially consists in the unpolished language. After having exhausted his facetiousness, he accuses his predecessor Houbraken of borrowing his anecdotes of Jan Steen from the Almanack of Liége, and of retailing a little story, as dry as sca biscuit at the line, and as probable as the travels of Pinto, about some incredible supply of bread made to the family of the painter. These censures have not prevented Campo Weyerman from relating many anecdotes himself; "A little story," says he," will show that the kitchen and cellar of Jan Steen were not so abundantly supplied as the hotels on the quay of Y, or the Lion d'or at the Hague. Once, towards midnight, the famous Jan Lievens (pupil and friend of Rembrandt) knocked at Jan Steen's residence, and the door being only latched, according to custom, he entered without ceremony. Who's there?' demanded Jan, waking up with a start. 'It is I, dear brother,' said Lievens, 'I am come to bring you a couple of chickens, as fat as strong Brunswick beer, as white as the white of an egg, and as tender as the leg of a pheasant.' 'Are they roasted?' asked Steen. No, king of the universe,' replied Lievens, 'they are raw; but I have resided in several courts, and there I learned to cook; I pray you, then, get up, and I will serve you up a dish in my own way.' Jan got up, lighted his lamp, and calling Corneille, his eldest son, who was his waiter, ordered him to prepare every thing for the repast. But some of the ingredients in the worldly pleasures of our two painters, who especially regretted the absence of wine and tobacco, were wanting. In spite of the reluctance of Corneille to ask for credit, Steen sent him to the wine merchant, Gorkens, to beg him, for the last time, to advance some wine, for which he should be paid in paintings. 'That done,' added the father, 'you will go to Gerard Vander Laan, and ask him for a pennyworth of leaf-tobacco, with a couple of little pipes, and you will swear in my name that my gratitude will be eternal.' Whilst Corneille ran through the town to awaken the tradesmen and to execute his commissions, Jan Lievens set to work, without losing a moment, plucked his fowls and placed them on a broken gridiron, which was buried in the peat dust to preserve it from rust; and Jan Steen, on his part, prepared a highly-flavoured sauce with pepper, mustard, vinegar, and butter. When the fowls were scarcely cooked through, the two companions began to devour them with such an appetite, that poor Corneille, returning quite out of breath, with his supply of wine and tobacco, only found, upon the earthenware dish, a head and a-half and three black feet. The wine and the packet of tobacco, which had just arrived, were now all that remained to be consumed, and this did not occupy long. After Steen and Lievens had thus satisfied their appetites, they went to take an airing outside the Porte-aux-Vaches, and walked along talking morality like true disciples of Pythagoras. But Jan Steen paid dearly for the carelessness with which, relying always on Providence, he ventured from home, leaving the door on the latch, as is the custom in the little towns of Westphalia. Whilst he slept, all his clothes, as well

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