CIRCLE OF DAVID TENIERS THE YOUNGER | The Alchemist

oil on canvas; bears signature lower right: 'D Teniers · F.'

Sir Sampson Gideon (1699-1762), Belvedere House, Kent;
Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, 3rd Baronet (1805-1863);
Thence by descent to his daughter, Mrs. Frances Selena Handbury;
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 8 March 1950, lot 120 (as D. Teniers).

Barcelona, Sala Parés, 'Pintores flamencos y holandeses siglos XVII y XVIII,' December 1952 (as David Teniers).

'Catálogo de pintores flamencos y holandeses siglos XVII y XVIII: Catalogo ilustrado de cuadros pertenecientes a colecciones Españolas,' Barcelona 1952, vol. IX, p. 65, reproduced plate XVI (as David Teniers).

Canvas appears to be thinly lined. An elaborate image presents well, with some of the details well preserved such as the still lives in the foreground at left, though the paint has slightly thinned in some areas. What could possibly be a result of a small puncture is at top center, though this is not too distracting. A small pindot of loss is on the center of the pants of the figure at far right in the interior. Some really small spots of retouches that are not too distracting are visible on top of the chimney at left. Inspection under UV reveals a thick varnish that is difficult to read. Painting can hang in its present state and is offered in an elaborately carved gilded wood frame.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Although the artist of this painting is unknown, it is an excellent example of compositions in an alchemist studio from circa 1700. David Teniers the Younger was actually known for painting numerous versions of the 'Alchemist' during his mature period, so it is possible that the artist of this work was inspired by his paintings, although it does not seem to derive from any known compositions. We are grateful to Dr. Fred Meijer for his kind assistance cataloguing this lot on the basis of images.