Interior of a Tavern

Adriaen Brouwer (in circa 1630)

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Dominik Brabant asked

Dear Museum - Team,

I would like to know why the lying man in the foreground on Adriaen Brouwers Interior of a Tavern is wearing such elegant clothes - as it appears to my judging from the noble materials and the distinguished colours? Is he maybe not a peasant, but a man of higher breeding who is visiting this dirty tavern? Thanks a lot for answering my question (great idea to include this tool!).

All the best,

Dominik Brabant
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Dominik,
Thank you for your interpretation. It is possible that the lying man is slightly richer, but more likely he’s a peasant, just like the others. Although he has some more clothing than the others, he is not very rich. You can see the holes in his pants.
Kind regards,
Esther

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The inn interior comes from the tradition of 16th century art. This painting deals with the allegorical theme of the consequences of excess or 'Gula'. The man seated by the fire adding water to his wine is an old symbol of moderation or 'Temperantia'. His demeanour is in stark contrast to the drunken group on the left.

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Specifications

Title	Interior of a Tavern
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Width 26 cm Height 34,8 cm
Artists	Painter: Adriaen Brouwer
Accession number	1102 (OK)
Credits	Purchased with the support of Rembrandt Association, 1919
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1919
Creation date	in circa 1630
Internal exhibitions	The Collection Enriched (2011)
External exhibitions	Lust and Vice.The Seven Deadly Sins from Dürer to Nauman (2010) Reflecting Class in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer (2016)
Research	Show research Alma
Material	Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe

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All about the artist

Adriaen Brouwer

Oudenaarde 1605/1606 - Antwerpen 1638

Adriaen Brouwer was born in Flanders, but spent some time in the Netherlands and was probably a pupil of Frans Hals. In 1631, Brouwer returned to Flanders and...

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