VOS; CORNELIS DE
1585 Hulst - 1651 Antwerp

Diogenes and Alexander the Great. Oil on canvas. Relined. 170 x 213cm. Framed.

Expert Assessment:
Prof. Dr. M黮ler Hofstede; Bonn; July 21; 1986;
According to verbal confirmation by Jan Kosten; RKD; The Hague dated October 7; 2013 the oeuvre was created by Cornelis de Vos and his workshop.

A similar painting depicting Diogenes of Sinope and Alexander the Great is listed in the RKD; The Hague; under the number 119885. Both paintings are very probably products of a workshop; which is why they were not exclusively rendered by the hand of the master.

Provenance:
Private collection; Rhineland

The anecdote describing Diogenes and Alexander the Great meeting in Corinth was mentioned by several ancients. Plutarch; The Life of Alexander; 14 reads as follows:
"And now a general assembly of the Greeks was held at the Isthmus; where a vote was passed to make an expedition against Persia with Alexander; and he was proclaimed their leader. Thereupon many statesmen and philosophers came to him with their congratulations; and he expected that Diogenes of Sinope also; who was tarrying in Corinth; would do likewise. But since that philosopher took not the slightest notice of Alexander; and continued to enjoy his leisure in the suburb Craneion; Alexander went in person to see him; and he found him lying in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many persons coming towards him; and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. And when that monarch addressed him with greetings; and asked if he wanted anything; 'Yes;' said Diogenes; 'stand a little out of my sun.' It is said that Alexander was so struck by this; and admired so much the haughtiness and grandeur of the man who had nothing but scorn for him; that he said to his followers; who were laughing and jesting about the philosopher as they went away; 'But verily; if I were not Alexander; I would be Diogenes.' [English translation from Loeb Classical Library edition; 1919. The text is in the public domain.]

M黮ler Hofstede writes: "... The composition is particularly captivating through its great wealth of narrative detail. The book still-lives on the left; the contrast between the splendidly clad; armoured and helmeted figure of Alexander and the deliberately modest and poor philosopher in front of his barrel as well as the large animal motifs of the horses painted in great detail provide the painting with an exceptional charm." [translation]
Art trade; Van Ham.