A Popular Handbook to the National Gallery, Volume I, Foreign Schools / Including by Special Permission Notes Collected from the Works of John Ruskin

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1459. THE WINE CONTRACT.

Gerhard van den Eeckhout (Dutch: 1621-1674).

This painter, the son of a goldsmith at Amsterdam, was one of the first to enter Rembrandt's school. He was a favourite pupil, and lived in close intimacy with the master. His biblical subjects—examples of which are at the Louvre, the Hague, and Amsterdam—were painted in close imitation of Rembrandt. He owed to his master not only his subjects, but their figures, costumes, and attitudes; he could not, however, borrow Rembrandt's warmth and intensity. His portraits are more successful.

A group of the four chiefs of the Wine Guild of Amsterdam seated in conversation over some deeds. The picture is signed, and dated 1657.