‘Mountabanck./ Le Charlatan./ Il Ciarlatano’, 1688

Description

Mounted hand coloured engraving, entitled ‘Mountabanck./ Le Charlatan./ Il Ciarlatano.’ (title in English, French and Italian), designed by Marcellus Laroon II (1653-1702), possibly engraved by Pierce Tempest, and published by Pierce Tempest (1653-1717), in 1688.

A portrait of a traditional travelling quack (believed to be a portrait of Hans Buling) demonstrating his wares with the aid of a tame performing monkey on a rope. He is extravagantly dressed in a tasselled tunic, ruffles and a short cloak. He offers a bottle of medicine and has more bottles in his pockets. On the floor at his feet is a small travelling medicine chest and additional medicine bottles.