How witching must have been thy breath—
How sweet the living charmer—
Whose every semblance after death
Can make the heart grow warmer!
207. THE IDLE SERVANT.
Nicolas Maes (Dutch: 1632-1693). See 153.
In the background is the family at dinner. The waiting-maid comes to the kitchen to serve the next course—the duckling, perhaps, which a cat is stealing—and finds the cook of Sancho Panza's philosophy: "Blessings on him who invented sleep, ... the food that appeases hunger, the drink that quenches thirst, ... the balance that equals the simple with the wise." Signed and dated 1655.
208. THE FINDING OF MOSES.
Bartholomew Breenbergh (Dutch: 1599-1659).
Breenbergh, after visiting Italy, established himself in France, where, after the example of Poussin and Claude, he painted "classical landscapes," into which he introduced small figures, supposed to represent scenes from Holy Writ, etc. His work was in great request in France, and several of his pictures are now in the Louvre.
209. THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS.
Both and Poelenburgh (Dutch). See under 71 and 955.