“Our young artist had no sooner his foot within his master’s apartment, than he found every object in harmony with his own disposition.  The colours finely ground, and ranged in the neatest boxes, the pencils so delicate as to be almost imperceptible, the varnish in elegant phials, the easel just where it ought to be, filled him with agreeable sensations, and exalted ideas of his master’s merit.  Gerard Dow on his side was equally pleased, when he saw him moving about with all due circumspection, and noticing his little prettinesses at every step.  He therefore began his pupil’s initiation with great alacrity, first teaching him cautiously to open the cabinet door, lest any particles of dust should be dislodged and fix upon his canvas, and advising him never to take up his pencil without sitting motionless a few minutes, till every mote casually floating in the air should be settled.  Such instructions were not thrown away upon Watersouchy:  he treasured them up, and refined, if possible, upon such refinements.”

In course of time Watersouchy gained the patronage of a rich but frugal banker named Baise-la-Main, who seeing his value, arranged for the painter to occupy a room in his house, “Nobody,” Beckford continues, “but the master of the house was allowed to enter this sanctuary.  Here our artist remained six weeks in grinding his colours, composing an admirable varnish, and preparing his canvass, for a performance he intended as his chef d’oeuvre. A fortnight more passed before he decided upon a subject.  At last he determined to commemorate the opulence of Monsieur Baise-la-Main, by a perspective of his counting-house.  He chose an interesting moment, when heaps of gold lay glittering on the counter, and citizens of distinction were soliciting a secure repository for their plate and jewels.  A Muscovite wrapped in fur, and an Italian glistening in brocade, occupied the foreground.  The eye glancing over these figures highly finished, was directed through the windows of the shop into the area in front of the cathedral; of which, however, nothing was discovered, except two sheds before its entrance, where several barbers were represented at their different occupations.  An effect of sunshine upon the counter discovered every coin that was scattered upon its surface.  On these the painter had bestowed such intense labour, that their very legends were distinguishable.

“It would be in vain to attempt conveying, by words, an idea adequate to this chef d’oeuvre, which must have been seen to have been duly admired.  In three months it was far advanced; during which time our artist employed his leisure hours in practising jigs and minuets on the violin, and writing the first chapter of Genesis on a watchpaper, which he adorned with a miniature of Adam and Eve, so exquisitely finished, that every ligament in their fig-leaves was visible.  This little jeu d’esprit he presented to Madam Merian.”