1600
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Bellona Leading the Armies of the Emperor against the Turks is a 1600 by Jan Muller, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows a strong woman, Bellona, leading armies against the Turks. She's the Roman goddess of war. The flag behind her has a double-headed eagle on it. Bellona is said to be the sister or wife of Mars, the god of war. This adds a layer of meaning to the scene. The artist likely included this detail to show the power of war. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Jan Muller (Dutch, 1571–1628)
The central, striding figure, Bellona (the Roman goddess of war), is said to be either the sister or the wife of Mars, god of war. The double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs appears on the flag behind her. Born in Amsterdam, Jan Muller probably learned engraving from his father, Harman Muller, a printmaker and publisher. He traveled to Italy in the 1590s and presumably stopped in Prague along the way. There he made prints based on designs by artists employed at the Habsburg court, including Bartholomeaus Spranger (1546–1611).
Read the full account in the museum source.
Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571–1628) was a Dutch engraver and painter. Muller was born in Amsterdam. His father was a book printer, engraver and publisher. He learned the engraving trade while working in the family…
See the richer artist page
