But Matthew Maris is full of surprises.

If a new picture by any of his contemporaries stood with its face to the wall one would know what to expect.

From Israels, a fisherman's wife; from Mesdag, a grey stretch of sea; from Bosboom, a superb church interior; from Mauve, a peasant with sheep or a peasant with a cow; from Weissenbruch, a stream and a willow; from Breitner, an Amsterdam street; from James Maris a masterly scene of boats and wet sky.

Usually one would have guessed aright.

But with Matthew Maris is no certainty.