The Alchemist stands in a largely empty barrel-vaulted room, lit from a window on the center of the end wall. He stands alone, reading a small book. He is dwarfed by the size of the room, almost lost against the background. His dress suggests some earlier, if indeterminate, time period. The light from the window casts the alchemist and various equipment in the room into silhouette. The high vaulted ceiling and details of the room are chipped, cracked, and faded. Cobwebs and dust are visible. The room has three chimneyless hearths, only one of which is in use. The room contains only a few isolated pieces of equipment: a globe, glassware, red cloth. The retort below the window is a reflection of the painter's imagination rather than an accurate representation of a scientific apparatus.