Formal Analysis: The Dying Usurer or The Wife The Physician.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and here I have tried to put into words the works of famous artists, so that we may better understand and appreciate their efforts, and the thought they put behind every stroke.

The previous analysis of the etching artwork titled "A Loan Shark And A Woman Customer Of His" by Léopold Flameng, depicted how illegal loan sharks exploit immigrant enclaves and low-income neighbourhoods. This painting by M. Danes provides a multifaceted view of the same issue and covers different aspects of this issue.

This painting by M. Danes showcases a lot of care given to minute details. It seems the painter wants to give a message to his viewers.

The first thing we see when we look at this painting is the Wife and the Physician. Looking closely we can see the eyes of the Wife, which look as if they are about to close any second. She seems stressed out and tired. She holds a vial in her hand, wish has a label reading “composing draught”. Near her feet, we can also see another paper, on which the legible text reads that the draught “will effectually compose you”. It seems she is preparing for a public event and does not want to seem flushed or burned out, most likely her husband's funeral. She looks rich based on her clothes and the heavy pearl necklace she wears, and on a rather moral note the physician could also be advising her to not follow in her husband's footsteps.

The husband and the vicar are the second part of the painting. The Vicar seems to be praying for the dying man, but he does not seem interested in the afterlife, rather his gaze is still toward his chest and his grip and trust is still on his ill-gotten wealth. Beside the chest we can see a paper lying there reading “A secure Guide to Hell”. Nearby there is a table with an hourglass, possibly indicating the time the man has left in the world. At the foot of the table, we can see a book, indicated to be the bible by the quote written in it:

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

This also indicates that they have all become involved in worldly matters and cast religion aside. An interesting thing to note here is that a vial in the Vicars pocket has the words “Viper Drops” written on it with a note attached reading “Love Felt”. This could mean that the Vicars intentions are not as pure as they seem, and also that an angry customer cheated by the loan-shark decided to take revenge on the Usurer.

The third subject in the painting is a woman, presumably drunk. Beside her is an article with a heading “The old-Woman's Delight”. This could mean that the Loan-Sharks murder was planned by her. We can also see a paper in the cupboard reading something about mortgage. The old-Woman is grateful that the debt on her will now be void, as the cruel man has died, and is drinking with happiness. From the way she is portrayed she seems to have not taken very good care of herself.

In this regard all three subjects, encased in the same painting, are related to each other.

Formal Analysis: The Dying Usurer or The Wife the Physician.