On this canvas of Quellinus from 1640 the year of death of his teacher Rubens all attention goes to the muscular Hercules who is working with a compass. The instrument is literally central to the scene. The work was commissioned by printer publisher Balthasar I Moretus who wanted an allegorical hymn on the Gulden Passer the name of Plantin's company. The other characters are also antique figures, including the seated Constantia. Apart from being a reference to the famous printing works, the work is also important for the temperedbaroque atmosphere that Quellinus brought into the composition. At the same time, it is a style evolution with Quellinus who is released from Rubens' influence in this period and when one of the first SouthDutch painters starts to work classically. After Rubens's death he becomes city painter of Antwerp.
Flemish art and heritage collections, in great detail