The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-25

waiting around the room into which
we were ushered, when Tolstoi came in
in the most cordial manner possible,
inquired of Mrs - about her son,
whom he spoke of most fiatteringly; was
introduced to US all; asking us to be
seated, etc, and no one could have been
more cordial and agreeable dauSh-
ter afterward came in, and both spoke
English with perfect ease.
He inquired how we all came to be
travelling in Russia, and when he learn
ed that most of our party were in Ber-
lin to study he said he wondered when
foreigners would come to Russia TO
study. He asked where each of US was
from, and seemed perfectly familiar
With our country.
He is a tall man, stopped somewhat,
and was dressed as the peasants are
in a blouse with a skirt coming almost
to the knees, belted in, and trousers of
the same goods, a dark brown home
spun. His long beard is not as white
as expected to see. He has fine eyes,
and I had good opportunity to study
his appearance, as 1 sat next, and he
turned to me sometimes.
He does not consider himself a good
Christian, I understand, because he has
not given up everything.
There was sold at Antwerp on June
LIST a collection of old Dutch and Flem-
ish pictures, formed and owned by
Gijsbert de Clercq, a distinguished citi-
zen of Holland and a descendant of a
family which has always been noted
for its love of art and the ownership of
fine pictures. Some of De ClercQ's an
cestors were painted by Franz Halls,
and these portraits were presented by
the family to the Amsterdam Museum,
where they can be seen by all visitors.
De Clercq spent many years in the
Dutch East Indies, where he amassed
a fortune. Retiring from business a
few years ago, he returned to Holland,
his native land, to enjoy his ease, but,
like the Mulvaneys, who after a long
residence in India, found when they re-
turned to England that they were out
of touch with the home land, and were
perforce obliged to return to the land
of their adoption, De Clercq, as the
French catalogue quantity puts it, has
been seized with a nostalgia des
paImes,' or homesickness for the palms
of Java, and has decided to return
there to end his days. This is the
cause of the disposition Of his collec-
ton.
The pictures that formed the collec-
ton are for the most part remarkably
fine examples of the early Dutch and
Flemish schools and all without excep-
ton are in a fine state of preservation.
A Portrait of a Man." by Nicolas
Macs, is a particularly fine example
Macs, the pupil of Rembrandt, at first
painted portraits notable for their red
dish tints. He was gradually influ-
enced by the Flemish masters at Ant
werp. He painted genres and many
portraits, especially of children. The
present portrait is that of a distin-
guished looking young man, who is
painted standing in a park with his
right arm resting on a pedestal. He
is robed in the beautiful red cloak
which Macs always loved to introduce
in his portraits.
Sebastian Vranck, the painter of an
Italian public fete, was a historical
and battle painter of the Flemish
school and a pupil of Adam van Mort
He enlivened his pictures with null
drawn. In the present canvas the fe-
male population of a town is grouped
around an equestrian statue in front of
hotel de vile. There are nearly 200
figures in the canvas, which is charm
ing in design.
The painting of a church interior is
by Hendrick c. Van Vliet. Van VIiet
was born in Delft in 1911. and died
there in 1919. The present canvas de-
picts the corner of an old Gothic cathe-
dral, brilliantly lit by the sun, with
a number of people studying the cpl
taphs on the wall.
PETER de Putter, the Well known
painter of genre, died at Beaverwycl
| in 1909. His painting of a fish nner-
chant is remarkably skillful in drawing
and composition. The old merchant
is seated at the right in his simple hut.
listening to a fisherman who has fish
to sell. On the left is a dead fish. no.
table as a fine piece of still-Iife paint
ing, together with a cat, plates and =
cauldrOn
Anthonie Palmadesz was born in
Delft in 1901, and died there in 16T3
He was genre and portrait painter
whose work shows the Influence of
Mierevelt and Franz. and particularly
OF Dirk Halls. The canvas. which de-
picts party of young people, is finely
| composed. a group of men and women
are talking in the foreground and fur
lively watching the two couples firt-
| ing behind them At the right a
grande dame converses with a cavalier
and on the left another group listen to
chanson which a boy sings to =
mandolin. At the left there is a char
actersuc figure of a page turning To
drink buffet in the shadow
A second example by PaIamadesz is
entitled La Toilette" and is an inte-
! rlor with two small female figures. One
ROBBED in black and white, is seated. and
The other stands before the glass finish
ing her toilet She is robed in blue silk
richly trimmed with lace. and a skirt
of orange satin. The costumes are adj
| mirably painted.
"A Wooded Landscape" bv Jacob
Ruysdael, is one of the best pictures in
! the collection. Jacob Ruysdael. who
was a nephew of Solomon and q SON of
Isaac Ruysdael, and who was born
/ about 1850 and died at Haarlem in 1861
was the greatest landscape painter of
SiiT DutSH ScitoOd- his early work was
remarkable for its minute treatment
OF accessories. There is a wood with
superb trees on the left of the present
canvas, while on the right a plain
/ stretches away to the distant horizon.
| On the read which leads to the wood is
troop of COWS and sheep accompanied
by their shepherd A beautiful summer
sky, covered with fieecy white clouds,
| completes the picture.