Artwork
A Lawyer
A Lawyer is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Marinus van Reymerswaele. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Overview
Marinus van Reymerswaele’s oil painting *A Lawyer* (1542) depicts a crowded interior where several men are engaged in paperwork and discussion. Executed during the Northern Renaissance, the work exemplifies the artist’s focus on professional scenes, particularly those involving legal and fiscal occupations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of five figures gathered around a cluttered table laden with documents, coins, a quill and a small ship model. Their attentive postures and the surrounding shelves of boxes and scrolls convey the bustling atmosphere of a 16th‑century legal office, highlighting the procedural nature of law and commerce.
Technique & Style
Van Reymerswaele employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of textures, rendering the rough fabrics of the clothing and the smooth surfaces of paper with noticeable detail. Subtle chiaroscuro creates depth, while the tight arrangement of objects emphasizes the cramped, work‑laden environment.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of a series of genre scenes that the artist produced repeatedly, often featuring tax collectors, money changers, and lawyers. After being created in Antwerp, the work entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display.
Context
Trained in Leuven and active in Antwerp before returning to the Northern Netherlands, van Reymerswaele ran a workshop that reproduced his most popular motifs. *A Lawyer* reflects the period’s interest in documenting everyday professional life and the moral undertones associated with the handling of money and legal matters.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marinus van Reymerswaele or Marinus van Reymerswale (c. 1490 – c. 1546) was a Dutch Renaissance painter mainly known for his genre scenes and religious compositions. After studying in Leuven and training and working as…
