Merry Company, Isack Elyas, 1629

Merry Company, Isack Elyas, 1629

oil on panel, h 47.1cm × w 63.2cm Catalogue entry

The figures around the table allude to the Five Senses. The woman with the lapdog represents Smell; the man with the piece of paper is Sight; the singing couple are Touch; the red-coated man with the glass of wine is Taste; and the lute-player is Hearing. On the wall behind them hangs a painting of The Deluge. That is a warning: there is more to life than pure sensual pleasure.

On display in room 2.6

Catalogue entry