Louis Gallait, born at Tournay in 181o, has enjoyed a great repute as a subject- and historv-painter, but he has been rather an imitator alter nately of the styles of David, who at one time resided in Belgium, and of Delaroehe; and in studying his thoughtful finished canvases one is reminded of these painters. Gallait died in 1887.
Baron Elide GlaiCIVC lrapfiers, born at Antwerp in 1803 and died in 1875, was opposed in style to Gallait ; lie was chiefly a history painter. Studying in Paris when the Romantic School was devel oping its strength, \Yappers allied himself with its style, and introduced it into Belgium in opposition to the prevailing taste for the classic style of David. As director of the Academy of Antwerp he was able to accom plish a distinct revolution in Belgian art. Wappers at once became a popular favorite, and reaped abundant honors and commissions. His pic tures are mainly of historic subjects, but he has also painted numerous por traits. Among his chief works are The Devotion of the Burgomasters of Leyden, The Great P7shing at Antwerp, and Blowing up a Dutch War ship.
Charles Vella!, born at Antwerp in 1824, professor at the Antwerp Academy, and afterward professor at Weimar, has won a brilliant reputa tion as a painter of sheep, in which line he is probably the equal of Jacque and Landseer ; but he is exceedingly versatile, and has not only painted other animals well, but has also produced admirable historical works, such as his great painting the Storming of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon, now in the Royal Museum at Brussels. The First Snow, a sheep-picture, is one of this artist's most successful paintings.
Eug?ne Joseph VerbOckhoven, born in 1799, died in 188o, is probably the most widely known and most popular painter of sheep of the century. His style shows extraordinary care and a thorough knowledge of his sub ject, but the more robust technique which has come into vogue with most of the art-schools of Europe during the present generation has tended to impair the esteem which this painter once enjoyed. The return from the Common OM 62, fig. 1)—a flock of sheep with their shepherd—is a characteristic example of the compositions of this well-known artist.
Dutch Painters : Jozef of the greatest living painters of the Low Countries is Jozef Israels, who was born at Groningen in 1824. Few of his paintings have found their way to America, but in Europe he occupies a place in the front ranks of contemporary art as an interpreter of the tragedy of life in humble walks, especially among the fisher-folk who live along the dunes and brave the tawny surges of the North Sea. It is chiefly in this field, where pathos and picturesqueness are combined, that the modern school of Holland has achieved its chief triumphs. Such painters as Herman Koekkoek (born in 1815), Herman Ten Kate (born in 1822), and Nicolas Pieneman (born in 1809) have found in the rude shipping- and fisher-folk of Holland the field for the exercise of their talents. The style of Israels resembles in breadth, forcible handling, and sentiment that of Jean Francois Millet (q. v.), although each is distinctly original. Among his most important works are Share of the Poor, Grace before Meal, The Cradle, The Sick Mother, Alone in the sub ject of our illustration (fig. 4), a notable and beautiful picture, but one of inexpressible sadness—and the Shipwrecked Fisherman, the latter a wonderful drama of the sea, full of pathos and picturesque effect, the landscape and distant gray sea being in harmony with the sentiment of the scene, which represents fishermen bearing home the corpse of a drowned mariner whose bark is visible afar off on the rocks.
Frederick Henri in a different vein are the delicately-painted society pictures of Alfred Stevens (born in 1828), of Gustave de Jonghe (born in 1828), and of F. H. Kaenunerer, born at The Hague in 1839. The latter excels in the arrangement of his composi tions. The Beach at Scheveningen, now in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, is a superb combination of sands and sea beautifully painted, with lifelike groups of fashionable ladies loitering at a summer resort. Genuine artistic skill is also displayed in his Going to Church in the Olden Time and in his well-known chrisie /zing under the Direawy (pi 62, fig. 6).