The Alchemist
David Teniers the younger (Antwerp 1610 - Brussels 1690)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1640 - circa 1649
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
406 x 622 mm (16 x 24 1/2 in)
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246499.1
Summary
Oil painting on panel, The Alchemist by David Teniers the younger (Antwerp 1610 - Brussels 1690), 1640s. An old man in a long grey cloak stands beside an open furnace, stirring a crucible and reading from a book; a boy beside him, right, dressed in brown, holding an earthenware bowl; in the background two peasant bending over utensils; a dog asleep in the left foreground.
Provenance
According to the 1953 exhibition catalogue the picture was owned by George Gee. It was not included in his sale at Christie's, 9 May 1864 (a sale at Foster's J June 1861 has not been checked); Joseph Gilloff sale, Christie's 3 May 1872, lot 357; with Lesser (1849 - 1911), from whom bought by William McEwan, together with the two other paintings by Teniers at Polesden Lacey (nos 58b, 59), 1894 (all three purchased for £3,150); The bequest of Margaret (Anderson) McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald - later Dame Margaret - Henry Fulke Greville, DBE (1863-1942) from probate records linked with the donation of the property to the National Trust in 1943. This item found on the record for Polesden Lacey pictures, drawings etc., stored in the cellar, page 169.
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, The McEwan Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
D. TENIERS (signed)
Makers and roles
David Teniers the younger (Antwerp 1610 - Brussels 1690), artist
