Hals ' reputation waned after his death and for two centuries he was held in such poor esteem that some of his paintings were sold at auction for a few pounds or even shillings .
His paintings are now among the proudest possessions of public galleries .
Hals ' reputation waned after his death and for two centuries he was held in such poor esteem that some of his paintings , which are now among the proudest possessions of public galleries , were sold at auction for a few pounds or even shillings .