Out of all the paintings in the National Gallery, An Alchemist by Adraen van Ostade inspired me the most. Innitially drawn to the visual style which was reminiscent of two of my favourite artists - Heironymous Bosch and Brugel, I was further intrigued by the narrative within the painting and in particular the family dynamic. What kind of man was this alchemist to put his family into poverty while he spent his time and welath trying to turn base metal into gold? Was he insane? Imagine if his pursuit was not so foolish, what if he succeeded ? What then, how would this sudden wealth effect him and his family?
