Antwerp School Circa 1575- Oil On Panel "la Pythie"

In ancient Greek religion Pythia is the oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Frans FLORIS: Grandson and son of sculptor, brother of the architect and sculptor Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, Frans began as an apprentice sculptor under the direction of his uncle in Antwerp, but renounced sculpture to devote himself to painting. At the age of twenty, he went to Liege to study at Lambert Lombard, a pupil of Jan Gossaert, known as Mabuse, whose travels in Italy had mixed the style. In 1540-1541, he enrolled in the guild of St. Luke of Antwerp, shortly before his own trip. Frans Floris paints paintings for the country houses of noble Spaniards and for the villas of patricians of Antwerp. He is known for his representations in the antique and especially for having illustrated the fable of Hercules in ten compositions and the liberal arts in seven, for Claes Jongeling, a merchant of Antwerp, and he adorned the palace of Beaumont de Philippe de Croÿ, Duke of Arschot, of fourteen colossal panels. He enjoys the esteem of Charles V and Philip II of Spain, and amassed by his talent a great fortune.