The Smoker

Jacob Duck (Dutch, about 1600–1667)

1650-55

Medium/TechniqueOil on panel

DimensionsOverall: 47.9 × 36.2 × 9.5 cm (18 7/8 × 14 1/4 in.)

Credit LinePromised gift of Susan and Matthew Weatherbie, in support of the Center for Netherlandish Art

Accession numberL-R 78.2021

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPaintings

Collections

Europe

Description

Slumped in his chair, a young soldier is mesmerized by the rising smoke coming out of his mouth. Tobacco, native to the Americas, had only recently arrived in Europe. It developed from a cure-all remedy to an intoxicant enjoyed by all classes of society. Pipes and smoking paraphernalia are featured in this painting. Everything else—the young courtesan, the half-empty wine glasses, and the playing cards on the floor—suggest that this group is up to no good.

ProvenanceJeffery Whitehead (b. 1831 - d. 1915), The Mayes, East Grimstead, England; August 6, 1915, Whitehead estate sale, Christie's, London, lot 75, sold to Lewis for £78.15. 1931, Erich von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (b. 1894 - d. 1987), Berlin; March 23–25, 1931, Goldschmidt-Rothschild sale, Ball and Graupe, Berlin, lot 2, sold for RM 1900. About 1931/1932, purchased in Germany by a private collector [see note]; by descent within the family of this private collector to Wilhelm Kleinherne, Düsseldorf; 2003, sold by Wilhelm Kleinherne to Noortman Master Paintings, Maastricht; March 2004, sold by Noortman Master Paintings to Susan and Matthew Weatherbie, Boston.

NOTE:
According to information provided by Noortman Master Paintings in 2004.