A unique oil painting by Boeyermans

The Flemish baroque painter, Theodoor Boeyermans (°Antwerp 1620 - +Antwerp 1678), was well known to the Moretus family. It is very likely that Boeyermans was taught by master painter Anthony van Dyck and made classical canvases according to the customs of Peter Paul Rubens. He also painted a large number of altarpieces for Flemish churches, group portraits and allegorical scenes. 

The iconography of the painting bears reference to the Plantin-Moretus motto as a printer and publisher: Labore (Hercules on the right, pulling on the press) and Constantia (sat at his feet, holding the compass). It is a glorification of the Officina Plantiniana, the house of Plantin-Moretus. The painter used an allegory, a painting genre that was popular in the 16th and 17th century, featuring Greek or Roman gods to illustrate abstract concepts. In his design, Boeyermans may be emphasising the role of the Moretus family.

The man on the far left personifies Work, as a reference to the motto at Plantin's publishers: Labore et Constantia. The woman with the compass refers to the same motto.

The man with the books on the left, the putti in the foreground, the woman with the compass, the printing press on the far right are all references to the art of book printing. The woman on the throne could personify the actual art of printing.

The man in the middle is probably the personification of Wisdom and/or Knowledge, offering his ‘services/knowledge’ to the world of printing. He blends in beautifully, dressed as an elderly sixteenth-century scholar, and armed with a stick. In many cases, the elderly scholar carries a lantern, with the motto Lampada trado, in the sense of I am passing on the light. Boeyermans based this figure on an etching by Adriaen van de Venne in Jacob Cats, Spiegel van den ouden ende nieuwen tijdt (Mirror of Old and New Times), Den Haag 1632. Boeyermans' oil sketch shows no lantern, instead the man is guided by an angel with a torch. This character may refer to the light of knowledge, which is passed on in the art of printing.

An inscription can be seen bottom middle of the painting. The writing is unclear. So its meaning remains a mystery for the time being.

The acquisition of this oil sketch is an interesting addition to the Museum Plantin-Moretus collection. After all, the work illustrates the glorification of the house of Plantin-Moretus.

It is to be put on permanent display at the museum. Given the intimate nature of an oil sketch, Plantin's office is the perfect spot. It was in this humble office that Plantin wrote his letters, took care of his accounts and counted his money. The gold leather wall covering is an indication of Plantin's prosperity.