Rijcke-Armoede (Rich Poverty)

This painting shows a seated alchemist in peasant garb. In his hands he holds a crucible and a pair of tongs, working before the light of a glowing fire within the furnace. A nearby tripod holds a small pot over the fire, while tongs, an hourglass, and other tools and implements hang close by. A large distillation apparatus with a long-necked retort sits behind him on a makeshift table made from a barrel. In the background the alchemist's wife looks on in dismay, displaying the family's last coins in a desperate gesture, flanked by her children. Their open-handed gestures signal the family's poverty and struggle, as the alchemist chases his vain dreams of gold and glory.

The painting was completed in brunaille, a monochromatic image in tones of brown. The artist, Adriaen van de Venne, frequently worked in brunaille palettes, as they were considered an elevated and sophisticated way of "playing" within the limitations of a single tone or color.