ADRIAEN VAN NIEULANDT | The Battle of Virtue Against the Vices

Anonymous sale, Bremen, Bolland & Marotz, 15 April 1989, lot 804, when acquired.

Rotterdam 2008, p. 117, cat. no. 123, reproduced in colour;

Raupp 2010, pp. 304–08, cat. no. 50, reproduced in colour.

Rotterdam 2008, no. 123.

The SØR Rusche Collection has been exhibited extensively over the last two decades. Please click here for further information.

Nieulandt worked in Amsterdam, where he was for a while the leading history painter, and no record exists of his having travelled abroad. He was heavily influenced by the Pre-Rembrandtist artists, such as Pieter Lastman and Claes Moeyaert. This painting, probably a commissioned work, is typical of his later artistic output, when he focused on populous biblical and mythological subjects. The three Theological Virtues – Faith, Hope and Charity – and the four Cardinal Virtues – Wisdom, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance – are situated behind the heroic figure – an amalgamation of the Christian warrior and Saint Michael – who repels the assault of the Vices below.