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Lot Essay
This hitherto unpublished picture constitutes an important addition to the sixty or so known works by Lemaire, none of which are signed or dated. Two other compositions representing this subject are known, both datable to the early 1630s, the prime versions of which are in the Statens Museum, Copenhagen (no. 693) and the Musée Condé, Chantilly (no. 300), the latter painted in collaboration with Nicolas Poussin (see M. Fagiolo dell'Arco, Jean Lemaire - pittore 'antiquario', Rome, 1996, pp. 198-203, nos. 41-46). The depiction of the figures in the former is comparable with that in the present canvas, with the woman clad in a blue and white dress gesturing with her right hand at Theseus, shown stooping over the sword with a cloak draped behind him.
Lemaire frequently re-used architectural motifs in his pictures so it is unsurprising to see here that the statue of the Goddess in the arcade reappears in the picture sold at the Hôtel George V, Paris, 12 December 1995, lot 93, (loc.cit., p. 210, no. 51). Similarly, the upturned column base is comparable with that in the picture in a French private collection (ibid., p. 211, no. 52). Both of these paintings are dated circa 1638/9, either just before or soon after Lemaire's return to Paris. A similar dating for the present picture is likely.
The subject is taken from the story of Theseus. The hero was conceived when his father, King Aegeus of Athens, visited King Pittheus of Troezen, a famous scholar, in order to consult with him
over the meaning of an answer from the Delphic Oracle. Whilst Aegeus
was at Troezen, Pittheus arranged a liaison with his daughter, Aethra. Finding that Aethra was to have a child, and having to return to
Athens, Aegeus hid his sword and sandals in a hole in the ground
beneath a rock. He instructed that Theseus' parentage remain unknown to protect him from his father's enemies, but told Aethra that when the
child was old enough to lift the rock, he should bring those tokens to Athens, and thereby make himself known to his father.
Lemaire frequently re-used architectural motifs in his pictures so it is unsurprising to see here that the statue of the Goddess in the arcade reappears in the picture sold at the Hôtel George V, Paris, 12 December 1995, lot 93, (loc.cit., p. 210, no. 51). Similarly, the upturned column base is comparable with that in the picture in a French private collection (ibid., p. 211, no. 52). Both of these paintings are dated circa 1638/9, either just before or soon after Lemaire's return to Paris. A similar dating for the present picture is likely.
The subject is taken from the story of Theseus. The hero was conceived when his father, King Aegeus of Athens, visited King Pittheus of Troezen, a famous scholar, in order to consult with him
over the meaning of an answer from the Delphic Oracle. Whilst Aegeus
was at Troezen, Pittheus arranged a liaison with his daughter, Aethra. Finding that Aethra was to have a child, and having to return to
Athens, Aegeus hid his sword and sandals in a hole in the ground
beneath a rock. He instructed that Theseus' parentage remain unknown to protect him from his father's enemies, but told Aethra that when the
child was old enough to lift the rock, he should bring those tokens to Athens, and thereby make himself known to his father.