A Goldsmith Melting Down a Woman’s Jewellery in the Presence of a Notary: “The Alchemist”, Jan Steen
Jan Steen
A Goldsmith Melting Down a Woman’s Jewellery in the Presence of a Notary: “The Alchemist”
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Jan Steen

A Goldsmith Melting Down a Woman’s Jewellery in the Presence of a Notary: “The Alchemist”, ca. 1668 – 1670


Dimensions
32.5 x 26.9 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
898
Acquisition
Acquired in 1842
Status
On display, 2nd upper level, Old Masters, room 7

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
A Goldsmith Melting Down a Woman’s Jewellery in the Presence of a Notary: “The Alchemist”
Painter
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Signiert unten links: JSteen. (JS ligiert)
Bezeichnet auf dem Druckbogen am Kaminmantel: TEOFRASTVS / Pareselis

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Departement
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 1842

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Associated Persons and Institutions

Iconclass

Primary
  • 48C311 jeweller, goldsmith, silversmith
  • 42B742 mother and child(ren), woman and child(ren) (family group)
  • 31B6214 weeping
  • 44G45 notary
  • 41A2 interior of the house
Secondary

Research and Discussion

Provenance

Object History
...
Antony Sydervelt
Verst. Antony Sydervelt, Amsterdam an Hendrik de Winter (1717-1790), Amsterdam, , 23. April 1766 (Nr. 33)
...
Philipp Joseph Tassaert (1732-1803), London
Verst. Mary D'Arcy, Countess of Holderness u.a. (Teil: Ph. J. Tassaert), London (Christie's) an "Pratbernon", 6. März 1802 (Nr. 72)
...
"European Museum", London, spätestens 1803/04
...
August Gosdorffer, Frankfurt am Main
verkauft an Eduard Gustav May (1818-1907), Frankfurt am Main
verkauft an das Städelsche Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, Dezember 1842.

Information

Since 2001, the Städel Museum has systematically been researching the provenance of all objects that were acquired during the National Socialist period, or that changed owners or could have changed owners during those years. The basis for this research is the “Washington Declaration”, also known as the “Washington Conference Principles”, formulated at the 1998 “Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets” and the subsequent “Joint Declaration”.

The provenance information is based on the sources researched at the time they were published digitally. However, this information can change at any time when new sources are discovered. Provenance research is therefore a continuous process and one that is updated at regular intervals.

Ideally, the provenance information documents an object’s origins from the time it was created until the date when it found its way into the collection. It contains the following details, provided they are known:

  • the type of acquisition and/or the way the object changed hands
  • the owner's name and place of residence
  • the date on which it changed hands

The successive ownership records are separated from each other by a semicolon.

Gaps in the record of a provenance are indicated by the placeholder “…”. Unsupported information is listed in square brackets.

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Last update

24.11.2023