Page:Hofstede de Groot catalogue raisonné, Volume 1, 1908.djvu/580

 55 6 PIETER DE HOOCH SECT. IN A COURTYARD. In the left-hand corner of a courtyard, paved with bricks, and enclosed by a brick wall on the left and a house wall at the back, stands on the right a young woman in blue, facing the spectator. She is at a wash-tub, placed on a board across a barrel, and splashes the soapsuds over a little girl, seen in profile to the right, who stands in front of her to the left. In the corner a servant-girl in red, with her figure turned away to the left, draws water from a pump. The house-door is half open ; a tree is trained against the wall. In the left foreground lie a broom, two pots, and a pail. Near them is an open door in the wall, through which are seen steps leading to a neighbouring house. Above the wall are seen house-roofs and trees, and the tower of the old church of Delft. In style the picture is akin to the picture in the Louvre (36). Signed ; a tall picture. Formerly in the possession of the dealer J. Van der Kellen, in Rotterdam. Sold to Cottier, in London, about 1889. Now in the collection of W. B. Thomas, Boston, U.S.A. 288. SCENE BEFORE AN INN. In a courtyard the land- lady, dressed in a red skirt, a blue jacket, and a brown apron, offers a glass of wine to a gentleman in brown. He sits, with his hat on his knee, leaning his right arm on a table. Behind him, facing the spectator, is another man with his hat on his head, in shadow. To the right is the inn, to the left a wall. Above is seen the evening sky. It is a late work with an unnatural effect of light, and is much damaged. The attribution to P. de Hooch is uncertain ; the picture may be by Ochtervelt. Canvas, 32 inches by 27 inches. Now in the collection at Fredensborg Castle, near Copenhagen. 289. THE WASHERWOMAN. Through the open door of a wash-house, built on to the wall of a house, is seen, in full light, a young woman at a wash-tub standing on a three-legged stool. By the door is a tall copper vessel with iron feet. In the left foreground a dog is lying on a chair. On the house-wall to the right is trained a slender tree, whose sunlit foliage covers the tiled roof. Canvas on panel, 15! inches by u| inches. Now in the J. Hage collection at Nivaa, Denmark. 290. A COURTYARD WITH A SERVANT CLEANING FISH. Sm. 37, Suppl. 29 ; de G. 36. In the left foreground a young lady, wearing a black velvet jacket trimmed with white fur and a reddish- brown skirt, stands, with her back to the spectator, giving orders to a servant-girl who sits beside a pump to the right cleaning fish. The pump is built on to a small outhouse ; beside it is a pail. In the centre of the background is a small garden enclosed by a paling ; beyond it to the right are seen some gabled houses. To the left, through a doorway, is a path, along which a gentleman is walking. [Compare 294.] Signed "P. D. H. 1665" ; panel, 29! inches by 25 inches. Described by Ch. Blanc, Le Tresor de la Curiosite, ii. 447. In the possession of an Amsterdam dealer in 1833 (Sm.).