COD 01148
An important Flemish painting from the first half of the 17th century. This oil on panel artwork depicts a battle between mounted soldiers and Amazons, the legendary warrior women. The Amazonomachy is a rare subject, an iconographic theme originating from ancient Greece. Often depicted on bas-reliefs and sarcophagi, it depicts the battle between Greeks and Amazons, symbolizing the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, civilization over barbarism, and order over chaos.
During the Renaissance, the theme was revived as a scholarly subject suitable for aristocratic commissions. A painting of remarkable pictorial quality, attributed to the great painter Otto Van Veen (1556-1629), teacher of Peter Paul Rubens. Known as Otto Vaenius, he was one of the key figures in the transition from Northern Mannerism to the early Flemish Baroque. A cultured humanist, he was not only a painter but also a theoretician and creator of emblems (the painting is not currently accompanied by an expert opinion, but one can be requested upon payment of the relevant additional costs). The composition is dynamic and reveals a complex and carefully constructed structure, with hundreds of masterfully characterized knights and surprising depth.
The gestures are theatrical yet controlled, with faces typified according to Mannerist models. The color palette is brilliant, with bold, lacquered reds and bright, intense chiaroscuro effects. A perfect artwork for a prestigious professional studio, a private library, or a large reception room, ideal for a discerning collector who appreciates erudite mythological subjects. Spectacular 20th-century frame in carved, lacquered, and gilded wood, with some signs of aging. The panel has already been restored, with some minor color restorations, but is in overall good condition. Internal dimensions: H 64.5 x W 105 cm.