ALCHEMIST IN THE WORKSHOP, 19th century, according to David Teniers the Younger.

Oil, duplicated canvas; 65 x 81 cm
Asking price 5500
Estimate 10000 - 12000

The alchemist was one of the favorite subjects of genre painting of the 17th century, providing an opportunity to show the interior with numerous mysterious objects. The figure of the alchemist himself is usually (as here) an old, learned fool, lost in books and futile (though no doubt expensive) experiments like attempts to obtain the philosopher's stone or transmute lead into gold. Teniers returned to this theme several times, depicting the alchemist studying books or performing experiments.