The mythological painting (shown, "Apollo and the Python") by Jan Boeckhorst is located in which museum?
In Greek mythology, Apollo, one of the Twelve Olympians, has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the sun and light, poetry, oracles, and more. One of the most important and complex of the Greek gods, he is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. The painting here "Apollo and the Python" is about Apollo; he has killed the giant serpent called Python which protected oracles but terrorized people. Python was killed at Delphi. This was done since Python either didn't let apollo found his oracle, or because Python had deliberately persecuted/abused Apollo's mother, Leto, during her pregnancy.
History has also recorded that because Python was the son of Gaia (the earth goddess). Apollo had to make amends for killing him. Apollo was forced to serve King Admetus for 9 years as a cowherd.
The c. 1650 mythological painting "Apollo and the Python" by Boeckhorst is currently in the Museum voor Schone Kunsten in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of a collection of paintings prominently on display in the oldest museum in Belgium.
Jan Boeckhorst (c. 1604 – 1668), a German-born Flemish painter whose style was heavily influenced by Rubens, Van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens, was born in Westphalia, in either Münster or Rees. He moved to Antwerp around 1626; he had a close relationship with Rubens’s studio, finishing paintings designed by that master as well as assisting with large series of artwork.
More Info:
www.wga.hu
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