Pipes in Art

[simnettpratt]

That Van de Velde is awesome, not least because it's from frigging 1650. I like the tankard meself. ed, what do you think the droopy cigar looking thing is?
ed, I seriously thank you for all your time in finding these pics. I never expected to go to a pipe smoking forum and see more art than I've ever seen in my life.

 

[simnettpratt]

Here's what was going on in 1650.
A Royalist army invades mainland Scotland from the Orkney Islands but is defeated by a Covenanter army.
The Harvard Corporation, the more powerful of the two administrative boards of Harvard, is established (the first legal corporation in the Americas).
Third English Civil War: Battle of Dunbar (1650).
Henry Robinson opens his Office of Addresses and Encounters (the first historically documented dating service) in Threadneedle Street, London.
Jews are allowed to return to France and England.
Three-wheeled wheelchairs are invented in Nuremberg by watchmaker Stephen Farfler.
Einkommende Zeitungen becomes the first German newspaper (cancelled 1918).
The town of Sharon, Massachusetts is founded.
Estimation: Istanbul becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Beijing.

 

[edgreen]

My guess on the burning rope looking thing is smudge stick. I'm pretty sure that something else about 1650 is places and people stunk. I imagine lots of masking agents were used. I thought smudge sticks were a Native American thing but it looks like, from the paintings I've seen while doing this, that Europe had them for a while.
I've also learned that there is a relationship between Harnett and Peto (the pipes tell the story) and will be exploring that in the future.
Emil Rau – Visit of the Alpine Milkmaid – 1907

Rudolf Schlichter – Day Worker – 1930

 

[newbroom]

the portrait of Cepa Godebski by Toulouse-Lautrec looks like Jack Black.

 

[edgreen]

Milton Cadiff – Steve Canyon

McClelland Barclay - LCDR Carter L. Bennett – 1943

 

[edgreen]

^milkmaid - we knew the dacshund had to return

 

[edgreen]

Other things about 1650, from a local perspective - Bienville's mother wasn't born yet. The Acadians had just settled in Acadia, not South Louisiana, but East Canada, for a long stay before their grandchildren have to flee. I don't think any white man has been to St. James Parish, much less discovered a great way to ferment tobacco in a unique way.

 

[edgreen]

Ch. Vinet – Fortune Teller in a Tavern – 1885

Harnett again – My Gems – 1888

 

[edgreen]

George Caleb Bingham – Mississippi boatman – 1850

Auguste Renoir – Claude Monet – 1872 (like rolling snake eyes,huh)?

 

[edgreen]

My guess on the burning rope looking thing is smudge stick

My wife has the perfect answer. It's a punk, used for lighting the pipe multiple times. You can see them on a lot of other still lifes either open or still in paper wrapping.

 

[simnettpratt]

A punk. Cool, because I don't even know what a smudge stick is.

 

[edgreen]

A smudge stick is wrapped up herbs that you burn. My wife and I bundle some often and use it instead of incense. I think we got the original instructions from a strange encounter with a Native American in Florida.

 

[simnettpratt]

Ha! I use Dunhill Nightcap or Luxury Navy Flake. In a Comoy's billiard smudge stick.

 

[simnettpratt]

I just got the St. James Parish reference

 

[edgreen]

Paul Cezanne – Man with Pipe – 1892

David Teniers the Younger – Tavern Scene – 1658

 

[edgreen]

C.F. Senior – The Sportsman’s Dream – 1881

David Teniers II – View inside a Guardhouse- 1647

 

[edgreen]

William Hemsley – Bubbles – 1870

Richard Brakenburg – Family Scene – 1680

 

[simnettpratt]

If I ever become a blender, I'm putting Family Scene on the tin.

 

[edgreen]

If you ever become a Lakeland blender you can use "Bubbles"

 

[edgreen]

Touissaint Gelton – Boors playing cards – 1665

Frans van Mieris – Man with a tankard - 1735