THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
Daniel de Vos (1568-1605)

Saint Eustace; and Saint Arsenius

Details
Daniel de Vos (1568-1605)
Saint Eustace; and Saint Arsenius
the first signed 'DANIEL DE VOS FECIT' on the book and inscribed 'EGIDII GRATAM SOBOLEM TECIT VMBRA CAVERNAE, QVEM FERA CAPTANTI PRAEDAM CANI PRODIDIT ALTRIX VBERIBVS NVTRIT CERVA DAT HERBA DAPES. NEC VIRTVS ANTRO CLAVSA LATERE POTEST.';
the second signed 'DANIEL DE VOS F.' on the book and inscribed 'OMNIBVS EXEMPLO SOECLIS ARSENIVS HIC EST CAESARIBVS MVLTVM FVIT VTILIS ANTE LOQVENDO AVLAI FVGIENS, ATQZ QVIETIS AMANS. OMNIBVS VTILIOR DEINDE TACENDO FVIT.'
oil on canvas, unframed
58 x 75in. (147.3 x 190.5cm.)
a pair (2)

Lot Essay

The latin inscriptions can be translated as follows:

'The shade of a cave gave shelter to the grateful offspring of Egidius - A wild beast gave up her booty to a hunting dog to nurse him - A hind nourished him with her own udders - Even the grass provided a rich feast - Virtue cannot hide in a cave' and 'This is Arsenius, a model for all generations. When speaking, he proved very useful to the emperors, but, a lover of tranquility, he fled to the imperial court and proved more useful to everyone when he stayed silent'.

Saint Eustace was a Roman general who was converted while hunting. He is the patron saint of hunting.

Saint Arsenius spent ten years at the court of Constantinople, tutoring the emperors Arcadius and Honorius, before escaping to the Egyptian desert where he lived as an ascetic until he died at the age of 95.

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