_Gaspard Netscher_ (Dutch: 1639-1684).
Netscher, one of the chief painters of Dutch "high life," had
a somewhat eventful career. He was born at Heidelberg, which
was then being besieged. His mother, after seeing her two elder
children die of hunger before her eyes, escaped with Gaspard
through the investing lines to Arnheim. The boy was intended
for a doctor, but took to painting and studied under Terburg.
In 1659 he started on a tour to Italy, but at Bordeaux he fell
in love with a girl from Liège, whom he married. He settled
at Bordeaux, but his pictures, such as this, which are now
so much valued, then brought him but slight remuneration;
and after returning to the Hague, he turned his attention to
portrait-painting. Several of his portraits are of English
sitters, and it is supposed that he visited this country, but
this is uncertain. Netscher's portraits are generally on a
small scale, and very highly finished. He was patronised by
William III., and was rapidly acquiring fame, when he died at
the age of forty-five. His _genre_ pieces resemble those of F.
Mieris.