Borghetto JJ

The Alchemist and the Snake Hunters a Pair of extremely decorative oil on canvas paintings with figures, almost monochrome paintings in pale sage/tan colors, large 140 cm – 55 inches each, of French origin, in good condition signed and dated J.J. Borghetto 1945. The first work portrays an alchemist rather than a pharmacist or chemist sitting in his fashinating laboratory with glass tubes, bottles and stills. The smartly dressed man is sitting at the table while writing. At the bottom right a cartouche shows the biblical inscription Homo versutus scientiam celat. Prov. XII V7.
Meaning A prudent, shrewd man conceals knowledge. Below the signature J.J. Borghetto Juin 1945.
The second antique oil on canvas painting of this pendant, with the same size, represents three men with Nord European dresses hunting snakes with the help of forked sticks and spring clips to put them in a sack over the shoulder. At the lower left within a cartouche we find the Latin inscription Coleban mutos serpentes Sap. II. V16-meaning they were shaking dumb snakes. In the opposite corner, Borghetto’s signature.

This set of two mid-20th century French decorative genre paintings is in good condition with signs of wear consistent with age and use. Unframed.