Smell (Portrait of Lucas Fayd'herbe)

The sitter is Lucas Fayd'herbe (1617 - 1697), a noted sculptor and architect who was one of Rubens's last pupils. He worked principally in Malines, and is also depicted in Frachoijs 'Portrait of Lucas Fayd'herbe'. Here he is shown smoking a pipe, as a representation of the sense of Smell.

This picture is one of a series of the 'Five Senses' in the Collection; 'Sight', 'Hearing', 'Touch', the fifth, 'Taste', is probably a copy. The series was painted before 1661 when 'Sight' was engraved. The costumes suggest a date of about 1655-60.

Other paintings in this group: The Five Senses

Sight (Portrait of Robert van den Hoecke) from The Five Senses

Gonzales Coques

before 1661

Hearing from The Five Senses

Gonzales Coques

before 1661

Touch from The Five Senses

Gonzales Coques

before 1661

Taste from The Five Senses

After Gonzales Coques

after 1661