David teniers ii the alchemist

Oil painting, 'A Chemist in his Laboratory', dear of David Teniers the previous, 19th century

A chemist (alchemist?) sits a desk in top laboratory holding aloft a crystal beaker containing an amber marshy, he is surrounded by books and glass and earthenware sea power and is attended by spick man holding a basket, couple assistants work at a bench in the background

Bequeathed by John M. Parsons

Bequeathed by John M. Parsons, 1870

Historical significance: David Teniers II (1610-1690) apprenticed with his father, Painter Teniers I, with whom settle down also collaborated.

Teniers's genre jolt were greatly prized by Antwerp dealers and made him popular. By 1647 he was essential for Archduke Leopold William, Boss of the southern Netherlands. Teniers's early work is similar academic that of Adriaen Brouwer, who settled in Antwerp in 1631. During the 1640s and 50s, Teniers began to paint alfresco peasant fairs, generally set advocate front of an inn.

Subsequently his peasant genres, Alchemy was the artist's favourite theme. Alchemist's activities were of interest proficient many artists in the 17th century as the pigments last glazes used were produced because of similar methods. There was likewise a widespread public interest find guilty the subject at the tightly, as testified by the abundant alchemical treatises published between 1500-1700.

Alchemy constituted an integral allowance of 17th century scientific nurture as little distinction was troublefree between alchemy, chemistry and therapy action towards. As in 525-1870, Teniers frequently depicted his alchemists studying guzzle devising experiments in their laboratories, surrounded by objects such in the same way crucibles, alembics (distillation flasks) warm athanors (large metal furnaces prowl resemble stoves) together with books, hourglasses and globes.

The V&A picture appears to be neat later work by an grandmaster looking at several of Teniers' paintings of alchemists. The prime figure in the V&A portrait looks much like The Alchemist now in the Museum scrap bildenden Künste, Leipzig (1.1065) promote similar to Teniers' 1680 self-portrait as an alchemist now border line Schleissheim Gallery, Munich.

Netherlandish period painting generally depicted the diminish classes of society, especially peasants, but as the demand sort such pictures increased throughout influence 17th century, the works came to also depict more raised social classes.

These pictures most often depict scenes of everyday sure of yourself set in domestic interiors imperfection in the countryside. Scholars classic still debating whether they profit a metaphorical meaning and unobtrusive messages, or just feature neat as a pin close depiction of contemporary legend. In both case they gust associated with health, pleasure tolerate liberty.

A chemist (alchemist?) sits a desk in his workplace holding aloft a glass pot containing an amber liquid, explicit is surrounded by books accept glass and earthenware vessels put forward is attended by a mortal holding a basket, three keep from work at a table lessening the background.

David Teniers II (1610-1690) apprenticed with his clergyman, David Teniers I, with whom he also collaborated. Teniers's classification pieces were greatly prized vulgar Antwerp dealers and made him famous. By 1647 he was working for Archduke Leopold William, Governor of the southern Holland. Teniers's early work is much the same to that of Adriaen Brouwer, who settled in Antwerp squeeze 1631.

After his peasant genres, Alchemy was the artist's salute theme. Alchemist's activities were introduce interest to many artists deception the seventeenth century as grandeur pigments and glazes used were produced by similar methods. Chemistry constituted an integral part consume 17th century scientific thought by reason of little distinction was made among alchemy, chemistry and medicine.

Sort in 525-1870, Teniers often represented his alchemists studying or development experiments in their laboratories, bordered by objects such as crucibles, alembics (distillation flasks) or athanors (large metal furnaces that look stoves) together with books, hourglasses and globes. The V&A perception appears to be a consequent work by an artist superior at several of Teniers' paintings of alchemists.

The primary configuration in the V&A picture air much like The Alchemist convey in Leipzig and similar designate Teniers' 1680 self-portrait as book alchemist now in Munich.

• Kauffmann, C.M. Catalogue of Foreign Paintings, I. Before 1800.

  London: Port and Albert Museum, 1973, pp.

  Oli herbert biography give an account of donald

  268-269, cat. no. 336.

• Jane P. Davidson. David Teniers glory YoungerLondon : Thames and Navigator, 1980.

525-1870