<div class="description">
In this variation of a painting by Gerard Dou, a scholarly alchemist, wearing a fur-lined robe, gazes with directness at the viewer as he composes his note. Holding a small quill pen with an open text before him, the alchemist may be engaged in copying, editing, or translation. Small earthenware vessels rest on the shelf behind him, and in the foreground sit a globe and skull. The latter object acts as a "vanitas" or vanity symbol, reminding the viewer of the brevity of life and the inevitable passage of time.</div>
Undated
This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Science_History_Institute" class="extiw" title="w:en:Science History Institute"><span title="library, museum, and archive in Philadelphia, United States">Science History Institute</span></a> as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Public_Library_of_America" class="extiw" title="w:Digital Public Library of America">Digital Public Library of America</a>, via its partner PA Digital.<span style="text-align:left">
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/7s75dc890">Record in source catalog</a></li>
<li>DPLA identifier: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://dp.la/item/0d1b6ae636118c9a4609a425e85abeca">0d1b6ae636118c9a4609a425e85abeca</a></li>
<li>Science History Institute identifier: padig:SHI-7s75dc890</li></ul></span>