a kiln for drying hops after they are picked from the stalks.

Oost (Jacques Van), a painter of history, landscape, and architecture, was born at Bruges about the year 1600, and learned the art in his native city, though it is not ascertained by what master he was instructed; but he travelled to Italy, to study after the works of the great masters, and copied every thing that pleased his own taste, or that he thought might contribute to his improvement. However, among all the famous artists, he attached himself particularly to the style of Annibal Carracci, and imitated him in such a manner, as to surprise the most able connoisseurs at Rome.

He possessed many of the accomplishments of a great painter. His touch and his colouring were good; he introduced but few figures in his designs, to avoid incumbering his subject; and he disposed them with a great deal of skill and elegance; giving them such draperies as were simple and natural. He designed in a good taste; and though his style of composition resembled that of Annibal, yet it was less charged than the designs of that master usually are. In his compositions, his colouring was fresh and like nature; but he is not so commendable in the colour of his draperies, which is sometimes so broken as to give the stuffs an appearance of hardness. He understood perspective and architecture extremely well; and as he was not fond of painting landscape (though occasionally he painted it well), in the stead of it he ornamented his back grounds most frequently with buildings, columns, arches, and different pieces of architecture, which gave his composition a grand effect.

The most admired picture of Van Oost is in the church at Bruges which belonged to the Jesuits: the subject of it is, a Descent from the Cross; in which the design, the disposition, the expression, colour, and chiaro-scuro, are worthy of the highest praises. He had a son of the same name, who acquired considerable fame in his profession.