Gérard Thomas, 1663 Antwerpen – 1720/21 ebenda

ALLEGORY OF ERUDITION Oil on canvas. Doubled. 67 x 85.5 cm. In ebonized frame. Accompanied by an expertise by Philippine Motais, Cabinet Turquin, reference no. 22.468/2. Motais concludes that the present painting is by the hand of the aforementioned artist. A large room, furnished with numerous objects, with a seated scholar in front of a round table with a colorful, valuable cover, on which there is a large open book, a globe and several vessels. The man with a fur-trimmed cap, who is assisted at the table by two assistants, turns to a man with open hands, while his companion points to an allegorical figure standing in the room, which stands for justice. According to tradition, the painter Gérard Thomas was a pupil of Godfried Maes. In 1688 he became master of the St. Luke's Guild in Antwerp. His interest in interiors was probably inspired by David Ryckaert's style of painting. Several works by his hand are known that depict interiors of alchemists or scientists. (1401434) (13) Gérard Thomas, 1663 Antwerp - 1720/21 ibid. ALLEGORY OF SCHOLARSHIP Oil on canvas. Relined. 67 x 85.5 cm. Accompanied by an expert's report by Philippine Motais, Cabinet Turquin, ref. no. 22.468/2. Motais concludes that the present painting is by the artist himself.