Artwork
Self-portrait as an alchemist
Self-portrait as an alchemist is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Teniers the Younger. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the artist himself as a figure immersed in alchemical practice, holding tools and literature that signal the pursuit of hidden knowledge.
The painting shows the artist himself as a figure immersed in alchemical practice, holding tools and literature that signal the pursuit of hidden knowledge. He is surrounded by symbols of the alchemical process, glassware, books, and scientific instruments, illustrating his role as both creator and seeker of transformation. The work functions as a self‑portrait that merges artistic identity with the mystic aspirations of early modern chemistry, reflecting how Teniers viewed his own craft as a form of chemical artistry.
Technique & Style
Self-portrait as an alchemist is executed in oil paint on a small-scale support, with the canvas measuring 25 cm in height by 20 cm in width. The work is classified as a painting and falls within the genre of portraiture, specifically a self-portrait, in which Teniers depicts himself as an alchemist. The modest dimensions and oil medium are consistent with the intimate cabinet-picture format favored by David Teniers the Younger.
The handling reflects the artist's characteristic small-scale genre approach, presenting the figure of a man, the artist himself, through the conventions of self-portraiture. Held in the Bavarian State Painting Collections and located at the Alte Pinakothek, the painting dates to 1680.
History & Provenance
David Teniers the Younger created the oil painting Self-portrait as an alchemist in 1680. The work depicts the artist himself, functioning as both a portrait and a genre scene. Today, the painting is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is housed at the Alte Pinakothek.
David Teniers the Younger's Self-portrait as an alchemist is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work, executed in oil paint, depicts the artist as a man engaged in alchemical study. Created in 1680, the painting measures 25 cm in height and 20 cm in width.
The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
David Teniers the Younger’s oil painting dated 1690 presents the artist in the guise of an alchemist. Executed on canvas, the work measures a modest size and is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The composition centers on a solitary figure surrounded by scholarly paraphernalia, rendered with a subdued palette and careful attention to material detail.
Context
The late 17th century saw a growing fascination with scientific inquiry and the lingering allure of alchemical practice. Teniers’s choice to depict himself in this role reflects contemporary intellectual currents and the artist’s own curiosity about the natural world. The inclusion of secondary figures in the background hints at collaborative study, a common motif in workshop environments of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Teniers the Younger or David Teniers II was a Flemish Baroque painter, printmaker, and artist.
