Ambrosius van Swol: The rat-powder seller (1660)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

A statue made by the Dutch sculptor Ambrosius van Swol (active between 1643 - 1679). This boxwood figure from shows a man who sells rat-powder poison. In his left hand he holds a round cage with black rats - showing the people what he is selling. In his left hand the man holds a small package which is probably rat poison which he is selling. The sculpture was inspired by an etching by Rembrandt from 1632 which shows an identical couple. Sculpture from 1660.