A Quack in Stockholm: Establishing the Oeuvre of Joachim van den Heuvel

Abstract

The rich and diverse art collection of the University of Stockholm includes a lovely painting depicting a quack doctor performing in a village square (fig. 1). He has spread his jars of ointment on a makeshift table resting atop a barrel, and he now stands behind it on a trunk and theatrically presents his offerings to a crowd of people who have gathered around him. He is dressed in a colorful outfit, including blue trousers with golden horizontal stripes and a blue sash, and he wears an oversized Phrygian cap. The crowd is composed of simple people; most of