The Alchemist In His Cabinet , Atelier De Teniers, Flanders 17th Century

The alchemist in his cabinet, oil on parquet wood panel, dimensions 48 cm x 64 cm, with its old wooden frame, 63 cm x 79 cm, workshop of David Téniers, second part of the 17th century. David Teniers II is a Flemish painter, born in Antwerp on December 15, 1610 and died in Brussels on April 25, 1690. He was a portrait and history painter, but he is best known for having developed the peasant genre, tavern scenes and scenes with alchemists. He is the son of David Téniers said the old man, his first teacher, then he becomes very influenced by Adriaen Brouwer. He was a member of the Antwerp guild in 1632. After having worked for Archduke Leopold-Guillaume de Habsbourg, who administered the Spanish Netherlands, he followed him to Brussels as a court painter. In 1663 he was ennobled and founded an art academy in Antwerp. Our painting represents the interior of the cabinet of an alchemist who holds a flask in his hand and contemplates it, an old woman seems very interested in his conclusions . At that time the alchemists were also doctors, dealing with astrology and also astronomy. Through the half-open door we see one of his assistants facing a tower that can be identified in Amsterdam (painters traveled a lot at that time throughout Flanders), he seems to be holding an observation telescope in his left hand, leaning on a cane . The sphere in the workshop could be a celestial sphere.