J. de Maten [fl. approx. late 17th-early 18th century]
Belgian
Pomona and Vertumnus, ca.1680s-ca.1720s
Oil on canvas
50 x  54 inches
Signed at the lower left (on the column base) : ‘J. de Maten’.

The old master work depicts the Roman goddess Pomona, whose name comes from the Latin pomum or (orchard) fruit. She holds a pruning knife to cut fruit from trees, which is her symbol. She is said to be a wood nymph. The myth of Pomona is one of the only Latin myths narrated by Ovid. The man in the painting is probably Vertumnus, the Roman god of plant growth and the change of seasons. He tricks Pomona into marrying him by gaining access to her heavenly garden disguised as an old woman (Vertumnus can shape-shift) and once in the garden marries her. The armor he wears appears to be Roman with a sagum (Roman cloak) over it and a typical under-tunic below the armor.

The Roman man (Vertumnus) is indicating for Pomona to look or follow him in a direction which both his hand and her gaze are focused on. She “reveals” her ripe fruit from her underskirts which is a metaphor for taking her virginity.

Perhaps the work is from late 1600s or early 1700s. In Belgium, the depiction of this myth was popular during that time. The myth was, however, popular throughout Europe from about the 16th-18th centuries.

The artist’s name, “J.de Maten” (J of Maten) is most probably, like many of the old masters, where the artist is from. “de Maten” is a small town of about 160 people in Eastern Belgium.