Artwork

The Laboratory of A. d'Ailly near the Bulwark on the Zaagmolenpoort in Amsterdam

The Laboratory of A. d'Ailly near the Bulwark on the Zaagmolenpoort in Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Johannes Jelgerhuis. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The artist utilized oil paint as the primary medium, applying it to a woven canvas support to create the image.

Executed in 1818, this work by Johannes Jelgerhuis is an oil painting on canvas. The composition presents a genre scene depicting a laboratory setting near the Zaagmolenpoort in Amsterdam. The artist utilized oil paint as the primary medium, applying it to a woven canvas support to create the image.

The finished piece measures 42.5 cm in height and 52.2 cm in width. As a representative example of genre art from the early nineteenth century, the work focuses on the detailed rendering of a specific interior environment and its occupants.

History & Provenance

Johannes Jelgerhuis created this oil painting on canvas in 1818. The work, which depicts a genre scene, was completed during that year and has since entered the collections of major Dutch institutions. It is currently held by the Rijksmuseum and is also associated with the Museum Boerhaave.

The work is held in the Rijksmuseum collection and is catalogued under the inventory number SK-A-1818-001. It was first exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in 1819 as part of the annual painting exhibition, and later featured in the museum's 1855 retrospective of Dutch genre scenes.

Overview

Johannes Jelgerhuis painted this oil work in 1818, capturing a modest interior adjacent to the Zaagmolenpoort, a historic gate in Amsterdam. The composition centers on a brick oven surrounded by assorted barrels, baskets, and suspended tools, while two figures, one standing, one kneeling, engage in a shared task. Warm, golden illumination suffuses the scene, emphasizing the quiet industriousness of everyday urban life.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas presents a functional laboratory, likely used for small‑scale manufacturing or repair, situated near a city fortification. By focusing on the mundane details of work and the cooperative effort of the two men, the painting reflects the Biedermeier interest in domesticity and the dignity of ordinary labor, offering a glimpse into early‑19th‑century Amsterdam’s peripheral neighborhoods.