Within the shadowy confines of a workshop, an alchemist is surrounded by broken apparatus and overflowing piles of cryptic texts. The alchemist, dressed in a red shirt and brown vest, holds a large flask containing liquid in his right hand, and appears to be scratching his head, or pushing at his hat, with his left hand. The theatrical pose of the figure suggests frustration. The hay scattered about is synonymous with extreme poverty. Van helmont was a follower of adrien brouwer and david teniers ii. Popular subjects for these artists include peasant interiors, alchemists, doctors, and craftsmen at work. Object Type: painting. Date: 17th century. Dimensions: height: 43 in (109.2 cm); width: 59 in (149.8 cm). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Science History Institute. Mattheus von Helmont Alchemist at Work
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