Page 12 - Barry McGlashan | Natura Naturata | 2020 | E catalogue

The Alchemist (cat 7)
oil on canvas 100 x x 130cms 391⁄2 x x 511⁄4 ins
The intention of of the the the the alchemist doesn’t seem so different from that that of of the the the the painter: attempting to to derive value that that transcends those raw materials just as the the the the prospector digs in in in the the the the dirt There are many versions of of of this subject in in in in the the the history of of of painting which I always enjoy those of of of of of the the the Flemish painter David Teniers particularly Of course Bruegel got there first His drawing of of of of 1558 is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a treasure trove of of of of meaning and pictorial ingenuity But no matter which version you look at at at the the attempts of of of of the the hopeful alchemist seem always doomed to to failure There is is is is undoubtedly humour in in in this a a a a a a a a a a a a liberal quantity of of schadenfreude and my painting is is is is no different Here he he he he stands painted into a a a a a a a a a a corner by his own hopeful experiment The latest concoction is is is held up illuminated in in in in in in in in in in the daylight like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lamp again I’m thinking of of Bruegel’s reference to to Diogenes in in in in in in in in in The The Everyman as as in in in in in in in in in my Atlas of of of The The Human with his pointless lantern a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a drawing of of of of which can be seen on the the the wall to to the the the left Around the the the alchemist are scattered vessels of of of all all all shapes and and sizes instruments of of of scientific thinking mystical symbols clues and and fingers all all pointing to his ultimate aim Making painted compositions like this can be a a a a a a a a a a a very complicated business so I perhaps have a a a a a a a a a a a sneaking sympathy with the alchemist’s plight