Flemish painter Antwerp 1623 – after 1679 Brussels
The wife of an alchemist saddened by his stubborn perseverance
Oil on canvas : 52,5 X 61 cm
Signed bottom right “M V / Hellemont F.”
Frame : 64,7 X 73,7 cm
Provenance : sold at Finarte Milan, 27/05/97 for 13.476 €
Van Helmont has added in this painting an extra level to the traditional portrayal of an alchemist’s laboratory. In the middle of this setting of pseudo-scientific research the alchemist’s wife is crying sadly at her husband’s vain experiments.
All my paintings stand fully documented on my website:
https://www.jeanmoust.com/categories/portraits-genre-and-exterior-scenes/helmont-matheus-second-alchemist/item-5193491