Hercules seated at the foot of a tree in a landscape

Details

Otto van Veen (1556-1629)
Hercules seated at the foot of a tree in a landscape
signed and dated .OCTAVIO VAN VEEN.f.1612 lower left and inscribed with a coat-of-arms on a shield hanging from a branch of the tree upper left
oil on panel
37.5 x 53.5 cm

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Lot Essay

The coat-of-arms upper left might possibly be identified as those of the county of Flanders. Placed in conjunction with the figure of Hercules, the scene can be interpreted as an allegory of the strength and the power of Flanders during the Twelve Years Truce.
Hercules is identified by his club. The presence of the Medusa shield, an attribute of Minerva, goddess of Wisdom, might allow the interpretation that the hero Hercules is here possessed with the wisdom of Minerva.

The landscape is the work of another hand, possibly that of Tobias Verhaecht.

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