4 23
Cabinet of Count Brahe. This contains forae paintings, three or four of which onlyare deferving of mention. The Magdalen reclined on a mat rolled up at one end, lean-ing on her elbow, with a book in her hand ; a light veil of blue and white thrown overher, ferving, with her long loofe hair, which is very handfome, in part to cover her, isvery graceful. This picture is attributed to Mignard , and is fuppofed to be the likenefsof the miftrefs of fome one of the Kings of France . David ereft, holding in his handthe head of Goliah, of natural fize ; he wears a red cap, in which are two feathers, theone white the other yellow : this is faid to be by Guido Rent; but is a copy of that in thecapitol, and has nothing fuperior to boall. Our Saviour and the Holy Virgin in a build-ing, with an afs and two cows or bulls, by J. Jordaens, in 1652, an original. Our Sa-vious paying tribute ; a much efleemed piece, the heads in it are beautiful.
Mr. Bolander , a painter, has a picture of the Virgin, with the infant Jefus and St.John,which he pretends is by Raphael, and formerly belonged to the Countefs Koningfmark;although many doubt its authenticity, the painting is certainly good, and much in thatpainter’s llyle. He poftelTesftikcwile a game piece by Snyders , with that mailer’s like-nefs, in a corner of the picture, done by Rubens, and fome other lefs valuable pieces.
Cabinet of the Bank . In the building belonging to the bank is to be feen a hand-fome collection of medals, ahnofl entirely Swedilh, contained in two hundred and twen-ty drawers; it is nearly complete : fome, but a very fmall number, arc foreign. Themod ancient, the authenticity of which is indifputable, is a very fmall one of Eric IX. in 1150. A medal of John II. in 1497, never publilhed. A rix-dollarof Sten Sture ,1512, very rare. A very rare medal reprefenting Charles Gullavus on one fide, on thereverie Dei Gratia et Chrijlinez Rex , 1654: another was ftruck which has for legend,A Deoet Chriftind. A medal of Brahe, 1665, very rare. A very eonfiderable and al-tnofl perfect collection of medals of famous private characters. This collection was begunand fold to the Bank by Prefident Rolamb. Its directors continue it. The ItruCture of thebank was begun in 1668, under the reign of Charles IX .
The bank lends money on fecurity of moveables and merchandize at four per cent.;every year two per cent, of its capital is paid off. There are nine commifiaries whohave the direction of its affairs, three from the clafs of nobles, and as many from that ofthe citizens, and as many of the clergy. Of one of thefe it is requifite you fhouldalk permiffion to view the medals.
Meffrs. Grill and Charles de Geer poffefs fine collections of Swedilh medals. Mr. deGeer has one in gold of Sten Sture , which is exceedingly rare; Mr. Grill one, faid tobe of Odin, which is however thought to be Armenian. Thefe two cabinets we did notfee. Mr. Grill, after having treated us very courteoully at Suderfors, felt himfelf un-der no obligation of repeating his civility at Stockholm . As for Mr. Geer we made noattempts to feek a favour at his hands. There are people to whom a mamis loth to beunder obligation. Our thanks might have been fuperfluous to a man who thews him-felf Jo grateful to the King for the many favours beltowed on him, and whofe opinions,unfortunately for us, were fo much at variance with our own.
Mr. Qiiijl has adopted a fyftem of claffification entirely novel, in. the department ofprecious Hones, and which bears no refemblance to that hitherto uled. He pays nor efpeCt to colour, but only to the weight, fhape, and hardnefs. He has given a detail ofhis fyftem in the memoirs of the academy for 1768. His collection is contained in avery fmall cabinet, and is worthy of notice on account of the novel manner of its clafii-fication. The firft place is aftignedto white diamonds, and diamonds of all colours, aswell in the rough as cut;—next, rubies and fapphires, among thefe is an ajleria, inwhich, on holding it to .the fun,you diftinguilh. altar : opals, one called the Nennius, , is
with.