"Died at the Hague, in the seventeenth century. Dutch school. 167. Fish. H. 25 in; W. 31 in. Scarcely anything is known of the life of this great artist and marvelous colorist, who made it a speciality to paint only fishes, as did also Isaac Van Duynen. Abraham Van Beyeren was little known in Holland. Amateurs disdained him until his pictures were brought to the light by the admirable French critic, Mr. W. Burger, who has published such remarkable works on the great Dutch school. He made people appreciate Van Beyeren's style by pointing out his grand and powerful touch, his admirable execution, his extraordinary management of light and shade, and his accurate scientific knowledge; to all this he added a fineness and delicacy of tones really marvelous. " It is believed this master was from the Hague, because his name is found among those of the forty-seven painters, who established there in 1656 the new academy of painting. Signed by the master." [P. 61-62.]
Catalogue of Pictures Belonging to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, No. 128 West 14th Street, New York.
