Scene at a Dentist's

Rombouts, Theodore, 1597-1637; Paul, Andre

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Author

Rombouts, Theodore, 1597-1637
Paul, Andre

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Other Titles

L'arracheur de Dents 2

Description

Undated engraving by Andre Paul after the painting by Théodore Rombouts, 1597-1637. Title described in reference sources as Scene At A Dentist’s, and also alternatively as L’arracheur de Dents. Likely late 17th C. Includes French captions beneath the image. The following statement appears in Le Dentiste D’Autrefois : 60 Reproductions, annotées par Georges Dagen (Paris : Editions de la Revue “La Semaine Dentaire” [no date]): “Whatever respect one may have for this painter, and his illustrious model” [that is, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1573-1610], “it must be admitted that the arrangement of the paintings of this school tend in the direction of groups which may not be to the taste of everybody. This is particularly striking in the attitude of the dentist who regards the spectator rather than the work which he is executing. With the exception of the person who is exhibiting his jaw, and particularly the patient, the audience would be in their place in any painting. But Rombouts has happily improved the aspect of his subject by the accumulation upon the table of surgical instruments. We distinguish a mouth opener, a pair of pincers, a tongue compressor (?), a probe, even a trepanning tool for the skull, in the midst of bottles, pots of ointment, and of parchments. The whole is in a disorder which is, if we like, an effect of art.” ; original piece measures 49 X 40 cm.