A BOOR TREATED BY A QUACK IN A BARN

THE STYLE OF THE PRESENT PICTURE SUGGESTS THAT IT IS A COPY, AFTER AN ORIGINAL, NOW LOST, BY ADRIAEN VAN OSTADE. VAN OSTADE IS KNOWN TO HAVE DEPICTED QUACKS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS AND COPIED SCENES WITH A QUACK IS THE SENSE OF TOUCH FROM THE SERIES OF THE FIVE SENSES, NOW LOST, OF WHICH A STUDIO VERSION WAS SOLD AT SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK, 12 JANUARY 1995, LOT 49, WITH ILL. IN THIS PICTURE A BOOR IS HAVING HIS FOOT TREATED BY A QUACK, IN A SIMILAR STABLE-LIKE INTERIOR AS IN THE PRESENT PICTURE. THE SMALL BOWED FIGURE STANDING AT THE WORKBENCH ON THE LEFT IN THE PRESENT PICTURE SHOWS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THE ONE IN THE SENSE OF TOUCH PICTURE.