Who painted An Alchemist in his Laboratory?

An Alchemist in his Laboratory was painted by Mattheus van Helmont in 1670.

Where can I see An Alchemist in his Laboratory?

An Alchemist in his Laboratory is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is An Alchemist in his Laboratory?

An Alchemist in his Laboratory is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of An Alchemist in his Laboratory?

Museum-quality prints of An Alchemist in his Laboratory are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

An Alchemist in his Laboratory

Mattheus van Helmont , 1670

An Alchemist in his Laboratory is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Mattheus van Helmont. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Mattheus van Helmont, a 17th‑century Flemish painter, executed *An Alchemist in his Laboratory* in 1670. The oil on canvas belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is now part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a cramped workshop filled with bottles, pots, tools and shelves. At its centre stands an alchemist clutching a large volume, while a dim interior is pierced by daylight from a left‑hand window. The disorder of objects conveys the chaotic nature of early modern experimental practice.

Technique & Style

Van Helmont employs a subdued palette and strong contrasts of light and shadow, a chiaroscuro effect that emphasizes the central figure against the shadowy surroundings. The brushwork reflects his genre‑painting background, with careful detailing of metal and glass alongside looser treatment of background surfaces.

History & Provenance

Created while the artist was based in Antwerp, the work marks a period when van Helmont was refining a personal idiom derived from David Teniers the Younger and Adriaen Brouwer. After its early circulation, the painting entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.

Context

Genre scenes of interior life were popular in the mid‑1600s, and van Helmont’s choice of an alchemist aligns with contemporary fascination with chemistry and mysticism. The painting reflects the broader Flemish tradition of depicting everyday figures—peasants, drinkers, and scholars—in richly detailed settings.