METZU (Gabriel), an eminent painter, was born at Leyden in 1615. His subjects were usually taken from low life; but they were all designed after nature, and surprisingly well represented; such as women selling fish, fowls, or hares; sick persons attended by the doctor; chemists in their laboratories; dead game, painters rooms, shops, and drawing schools hung with prints and pictures; all which subjects he composed well, and finished them with extreme neatness, as he likewise did his portraits. He spent a great deal of time on his pictures, which has occasioned their scarcity and dearth at this time; and besides, it is confidently said, the Dutch prevent their being carried out of their own country, as much as possible. So that those paintings of Metz, which are sometimes seen in the collections of our kingdoms, are either obtained by chance, or purchased at large prices. Though it ought also to be remembered, that the value set upon the works of this master throughout Holland and Flanders, has induced several painters to endeavour at imitating and copying his works, which having gradually circulated abroad and being a little mellowed by time, are now called originals. He died in 1658.