Rijksmuseum

De rattenkruitverkoper

Date

c. 1660

Medium

lead (metal), boxwood

Culture

Utrecht

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Rat catchers, like beggars, street musicians, peddlers and quacksalvers, were regarded as persons of low moral character. Such picturesque individuals provided rewarding subjects for artists. Van Swol drew his inspiration for this small figure of a rat poison seller and his little servant from an etching by Rembrandt from 1632.

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