Caspar Xascher (1639-1684) shows us himself 5) sitting at his table—pen, not brush, in hand—lost in thought over the letter which is not yet begun. Clearly, writing comes harder to him than painting.
Gerard (1613-1675), in Figure 4, sits comfortably before his account-hook, in which he is perhaps entering the last orders or the sums received for them; a group of statuary and all sorts of artists' belongings show that the room is a studio; the owner's love for music is declared by the violin, flute, and music-sheets.
Gabriel .1Ietsu (1630 to about 1668).—In Metsu's (fig. 7) a pretty girl simple in dress and demeanor pauses a moment in her work to listen to the pleasant young fellow who turns to her from his glass of wine. There is a sweet familiarity in the attitude of both which makes us feel with kindly interest that they are destined to go through life together.
Gerard Terbuis. (r 6oS–r 6S r). —T he Paternal (j51.38, fig. 9), by this artist, has been thus described by Goethe in Affinities: "A noble, knightly-looking father sits with one foot crossed upon his knee, and seems to utter words of warning or reproof to the daughter who stands before him. The latter, a fine figure in a voluminous gown of white satin, is seen only from behind, but her whole air and hearing are indicative of the effort to collect herself. However, the look and gesture of the father show that his words are neither violent nor mortify ing; as to the mother, she seems to conceal a slight embarrassment by looking into a glass of wine which she is about to drink."
Jan .Stem (1626-1679) shows himself equally at home in tavern and in drawing-room. A humorist, he indulges in witty mockery of all false greatness and vain security. He treats life as a comedy: we cannot change it, and it is better to laugh than to lose one's temper. In Figure S we have a scene of Folly and Confusion. The young man has evidently already drunk too much of the sweet, heady wine, and the fat, fair dame who presses another glass upon him has forgotten in her zeal to put the spigot in the cask after filling her pitcher. The good liquor runs out on the floor, where hat, cards, pipes, and flowers are strewn about, and where a little pig pokes around with an impunity which leads it to feel that it is in the right place. In the background an old couple talk together; the musician plays away, regardless of the fact that no one listens, and the woman who should keep an eye on everything has gone to sleep. The children take advantage of her slumber, as the mice dance on the table when the cats are not at home. The youngest, in high glee, throws the dishes to the floor; the boy lights a pipe, and the girl steals dainties out of the cupboard, while the little dog imitates her to the best of his ability by licking the plates.