Artwork
Justice
Justice is an unspecified painting by Erasmus Quellinus II. It dates from 1652 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1652, *Justice* is an oil painting by the Flemish artist Erasmus Quellinus II. Executed after the death of his contemporary Peter Paul Rubens, the work exemplifies Quellinus’s prominence in mid‑17th‑century Flanders, where he was celebrated for history and allegorical compositions. The canvas now forms part of the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a female figure representing the personification of justice.
The composition centers on a female figure representing the personification of justice. She is robed in a flowing garment, stands upon a pedestal inscribed with the Latin term “JUSTITIA,” and holds a sword in one hand and a balanced scale in the other. Though her face is partially veiled by shadow, her direct gaze engages the viewer, underscoring the authority and impartiality traditionally associated with the virtue.
Technique & Style
Quellinus employs a restrained palette and chiaroscuro to model the figure, allowing light to illuminate the drapery while the facial features recede into darkness. The rendering of the fabric’s folds and the meticulous detailing of the sword and scales reflect the artist’s training in the Baroque tradition, yet the overall composition maintains a measured, allegorical clarity rather than dramatic excess.
History & Provenance
After establishing himself as a leading painter in the post‑Rubens era, Quellinus produced *Justice* as part of a series of allegorical works likely intended for a civic or private patron. The painting entered the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains on display, providing insight into the city’s artistic heritage and the continued relevance of moral symbolism in Flemish art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Erasmus Quellinus the Younger or Erasmus Quellinus II (November 19, 1607 – November 11, 1678) was a Flemish painter, engraver, draughtsman and tapestry designer who worked in various genres including history, portrait, allegorical, battle…
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