Jan Pauwel Gillemans d. J., 1651 Antwerpen – 1704, zugeschrieben

ALLEGORY OF EARTHLY LOVE Oil on canvas. Doubled. 67 x 82 cm. Composed in great detail with figures of children, park architecture and depictions of fruit, this painting is to be understood as an allegory referring to earthly love. The central figure is a little girl, dressed only in a red loincloth, crouching next to a birdcage while looking at a bird held up in her right hand, which is about to be led into the cage. The bird is led by a string held by the child's left hand. To the right is another girl and two standing boys, who are probably gazing with interest at the bird, the symbol of earthly love, for the first time, while they hold each other, measuring their strength. The allegorical group of children is surrounded by an abundance of finely painted fruit such as light and dark grapes, melons, tree fruit and figs. From the center of the foreground to the left, a whole bunch of fruit is being pulled up a sloping tree trunk, where two more boys are climbing into the branches, probably looking for birds' nests. In the background a view of a park landscape with an avenue of poplars leading back to the horizon, in front of it a park vase. On the right edge of the picture is a courtly park building in the evening light. The symbolism of earthly love is further emphasized by the pair of rabbits depicted in the lower left corner of the picture. The painting is presented in a masterly manner, the fruit rendered in a still-life-like manner, the lighting mood aptly and consistently mastered. (1400883) (11) Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Younger, 1651 Antwerp - 1704, attributed AN ALLEGORY OF EARTHLY LOVE Oil on canvas. Relined. 67 x 82 cm. This detailed composition of children, park architecture and fruit depictions symbolizes an allegory referring to love on earth. The picture is masterfully executed: the fruit is painted in the manner of a still life and the atmosphere of the light has aptly and consequently been mastered.