_Willem van Mieris_ (Dutch: 1662-1747).
The son of Frans (see above, 840). He succeeded to his father's
practice, but was an indifferent imitator. A comparison between
him and the leading "Little Masters of Holland" will show the
difference between true finish and laborious trifling.
Decidedly an "artistic" shop: notice the elaborate bas-relief (as also
in 825), with marine subjects suitable to a fishmonger's, below the
shop-window, and the handsome curtain ready to serve as shutters. The
picture is sometimes called "The Cat," from the cat eyeing the duck
whose head hangs from the window-sill.