Hercules Protects Painting from Ignorance and Envy

1763 · Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

mythological

A series of recent studies and acquisitions have led to something of a new attitude towards painting in the 18th century. Until fairly recently, the art of this period was considered to be rather inferior, despite the high artistic output, because of its perceived lack of innovation. On the one hand, Flemish artists of the 18th century continued to live off the inheritance of Rubens, whose art seemed unsurpassable.

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Hercules Protects Painting from Ignorance and Envy

About the Artist

Andries Cornelis Lens

1739 – 1822

Flemish painter, an artist with an international reputation, a representative of the neo-classical ideal. He visited Rome and was much taken with the ideas of Mengs and Winckelmann and returned to home to become the leader of a school. His paintings are the result of his study of antique and Italian masters, but also his reading of classical and biblical writings (Ariadne on Naxos, Brussels Museum). In 1763, Lens became the director of the Antwerp Academy,

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