Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-peter-lely-343" aria-label="More by Sir Peter Lely" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Peter Lely</a>
Frans Mercurius van Helmont
Purchased 1921
adults
architecture
column
document - non-specific
educational and scientific
features
Helmont, Frans Mercurius van
individuals: male
man
named individuals
objects
people
portraits
reading, writing, printed matter
scientist
teacher
work and occupations
<p>Van Helmont, shown here aged about fifty-three, was a celebrated alchemist and physician. This portrait was probably commissioned by Lady Conway of Ragley shortly after Van Helmont arrived in England in 1670.</p><p>An inscription on the pedestal in the lower right corner, probably added in the eighteenth century, describes one aspect of the skills which brought Van Helmont fame: ‘Anne Finch Viscountess Conway dying at / Rageley 1678 while her Lord was in Ireland / She was preserved in her Coffin by Van Helmont / with a Glass over her face, till Lord Conway’s return ...’</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Frans Mercurius van Helmont
support: 1232 × 1010 mm
frame: 1595 × 1220 × 120 mm
Purchased 1921
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<span class="text14">Van Helmont, shown here aged about fifty-three, was a      celebrated alchemist</span><span class="text0"> </span><span class="text13">and physician. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> was probably commissioned by Lady      Conway of Ragley</span><span class="text0"> shortly after Van Helmont      arrived in England in 1670. </span>
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<span class="text0">An inscription on the pedestal in the </span><span class="text13">lower right corner, probably added in the eighteenth      century, describes one aspect</span><span class="text0"> </span><span class="text14">of the skills which brought Van Helmont fame: ‘Anne Finch      Viscountess Conway dying at / Rageley 1678 while her Lord </span><span class="text13">was in Ireland / She was preserved in her Coffin by Van      Helmont / with a Glass over</span><span class="text0"> her face, till      Lord Conway’s return ...’ 
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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adults architecture column document - non-specific educational and scientific features Helmont, Frans Mercurius van individuals: male man named individuals objects people portraits reading, writing, printed matter scientist teacher work and occupations