(‘sHertogenbosch 1606/08–1669)
Antiochus and Stratonike,
the bottom right of the tablecloth inscribed: Prudentia relevant amorem,
oil on canvas, 140 x 236 cm, framed

Provenance:
Freiherr von Brabeck, Schloss Söder, Hildesheim, no later than 1792;
sale, Hannover, 31. November 1859, Lot 259;
Fürst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, Schloss Wernigerode;
and by descent to the present owner

Exhibited:
Halle, Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg, no later than 1960, Inv. No. I/1373 (according to adhesive label on the back)

Literature:
A. Roy, Theodoor van Thulden. Een Zuidnederlandse barokschilder, Zwolle 1992, p 155/56, No. 16, with ill.

In van Thulden’s day, the story of Antiochos and Stratonice was reasonably popular. Antiochos, the young son of General Seleucos I. Nicator, is seen lying in bed with an expression of suffering. He has fallen seriously ill, plagued by a secret passion for his stepmother Stratonice, here shown on his right. A doctor has been called – he is seen holding Antiochos’ hand – and recognises the true cause of the illness when his patient’s pulse quickens in Stratonice’s presence. When the doctor informs Antiochus’s father, here seated holding a sceptre, the latter relinquishes his own wife and allows marriage to take place between Antiochus and Stratonice, fearful for his son’s life. The implied moral is made evident by the inscription „prudentia relevant amorem“– wisdom lightens love’s burden.

It is possible that this picture is the work that Joshua Reynolds, writing in 1781, held to be by Rubens: ‘At Mr. Dasch’s there is a great picture of Rubens - the story of Seleucos and Stratonice. The miserable attitude of the son lying on the bed is of unseen beauty; the composition of the ensemble is good.’

Alain Roy has compared this picture (cf. literature, pp. 153/4, fig. 85) to Van Thulden’s The Continence of Scipio, dated 1638.

Provenance:
Freiherr von Brabeck, Schloss Söder, Hildesheim, no later than 1792;
auction, Hannover, 31. November 1859, Lot 259;
Fürst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, Schloss Wernigerode;
since that time owned by his heirs

Exhibited: <br