The Alchemist’s Studio
This painting depicts a bustling and prosperous workshop showing a range of alchemical activities, from metallurgical work--such as the heating of a small crucible at lower left--to medical practices, demonstrated by the figure at far right holding up a flask of urine for examination and diagnosis. The elderly alchemist works a pair of hand bellows while his assistants tend to a pair of furnaces. A celestial globe at center is joined by the pairing of an hourglass and skull, symbols of “vanitas,” or vanity objects which remind the viewer of life’s brevity. A small dog and parrot can also be found at right, tended by a young boy.
Instituto de Historia de la Ciencia (Filadelfia, Estados Unidos de América)
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Detalles de la obra
- Título: The Alchemist’s Studio
- Artista: Gerard Thomas
- Año: 1699
- Formato: Landscape
- Estado de derechos de autor: Protegido por derechos de autor
- Dónde verla: Instituto de Historia de la Ciencia
- Paleta de colores: Earthy
- Color principal: Black
- Palabras clave: medical illustration , 17th century art , brown and red hues
- Intensidad del color: Monochromatic


