Scholar Interrupted at His Writing
An Alchemist in His Laboratory
- Undated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.In this variation of a painting by Gerard Dou, a scholarly alchemist, wearing a fur-lined robe, gazes with directness at the viewer as he composes his note. Holding a small quill pen with an open text before him, the alchemist may be engaged in copying, editing, or translation. Small earthenware vessels rest on the shelf behind him, and in the foreground sit a globe and skull. The latter object acts as a "vanitas" or vanity symbol, reminding the viewer of the brevity of life and the inevitable passage of time.
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(sale, Christie's, South Kensington, 25 October 1990, lot no. 63, to Eddleman for Spectrum). [1] Spectrum Laboratories, Rancho Dominguez, CA, acquired by Roy Eddleman, 1990-2000. The Chemical Heritage Foundation, 2000 (from Eddleman/Spectrum). Show notes[1] The sale date is inscribed on the verso of the panel: "63 27/10/90." |
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| Rights | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License |
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Cite as
Scholar Interrupted at His Writing. Panel (wood by form), oil paint (paint), n.d. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/7s75dc890.
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