Like many Neoclassical canvases, this painting also depicts an ancient story. Belisarius, a general under the Emperor Justinian, was wrongly accused of treason. He was imprisoned and blinded. Belisarius’ wife collapses at the sight of her mutilated husband. Tiberius, the soldier on the left, will later prove Belisarius’ innocence and marry his daughter, Eudoxe, who is weeping as she cradles her dying mother.
Before explaining the tragedy that unfolds before us, we will first look at how the Bruges painter, François-Joseph Kinsoen, ‘composed’ this monumental canvas. It is a typical Neoclassical painting. Look at the beautifully balanced composition, with a tall, erect figure at the left and, on the right, three figures in a compact, triangular group. The background is sober, the lighting well-regulated and the emotions subdued. All this, despite the drama.
Like many Neoclassical paintings, this work also depicts a scene from antiquity. The old man is Belisarius, a general under Emperor Justinian, who was wrongly accused of treason and sent to prison. While there, he was blinded on the orders of the emperor. At his homecoming, Belisarius’ wife dies from grief at the sight of her mutilated husband. There are two witnesses to this family tragedy: their daughter Eudoxe, who is weeping, and the soldier on the left, Tiberius. He would later prove Belisarius’ innocence and marry Eudoxe. Kinsoen was familiar with this version of the classical tale through a popular 18th-century French novel.
Kinsoen undoubtedly also linked a moral to this story: Belisarius is what is known as an exemplum virtutis, an example of virtue. For despite the injustice done to him, he remains faithful to the emperor.
Kinsoen donated this work to the Bruges Academy, which is how it became part of the museum collection. He did so out of gratitude for his training.
This is a fine example of how the museum acquired its collection of Neoclassical art. If you haven’t listened to this story yet, you can do so now. Press the green button.