07 Works, Today, June 23rd, is Barbaros the Myrrhgusher's day, his story in Paintings #174

Unknown artist

Barbaros the Myrrhgusher

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Barbaros the Myrrhgusher lived in the ninth century during the reign of King Michael the Stutterer (820-829). He came from among the heathen of the Barbary Coast of North Africa and was a member of a fearsome band of pirates which ravaged the coastlines of Palestine, Sicily, and Crete, the Aegean islands, and Epiros.

Aert Anthoniszoon, (1579–1620)

A French Ship and Barbary Pirates, circa 1615

Oil on oak panel.

252 × 431 mm (9.92 × 16.96 in).

National Maritime Museum , Greenwich, England, United Kingdom.

Aert Anthoniszoon or Anthonissen, also known as Aart or Aert van Antum (born c. 1579–1580; buried 7 September 1620) was a Dutch marine painter.

Anthoniszoon was born at Antwerp. His parents moved the family to Amsterdam in 1591. He was possibly a pupil of Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom. In 1603, when he married, he was 23 years old. 

He was buried in the Zuiderkerk of Amsterdam.

Until 1973 Anthoniszoon was known as Aart or Aert van Antum, as his signatures on early paintings were interpreted as "Aert [van] Antum". Later research showed his signature to be "AERT ANT[...]", with the letters of his surname included with varying degrees of completion. One reason so little is known of him is that his life and work were overlooked or omitted by early 17th- and 18th-century painter biographers such as Arnold Houbraken.

Anthoniszoon was the father of the marine painter Hendrick van Anthonissen. A seapiece by him, signed "A. A.", is in the Berlin Museum. More on Aert Anthoniszoon

At one point, having passed through the Ambracian Gulf, the pirates set ashore in the land of Acarnania, along the Ionian Sea, in a spirit of destruction. 

Giovanni Guida (Italian, 1837–1895)

A Barbary Pirate, c . 1885

Oil on canvas

50.98 x 31.5 in. (129.5 x 80 cm.)

Private collection

I have no further description of this artist at this time

The Acarnanian people engaged in battle at Dragamesti (present day Karaïskaki, Astakos), and, fighting heroically, checked their incursions and defeated them. Barbaros was the only one among them who survived, and he hid himself in a vineyard.

Unknown artist

Brigands

Illustration from With the World's People by John Clark Ridpath (Clark E Ridpath, 1912)

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Thereafter, he gave himself over to brigandage and murder, becoming the terror of the Xeromeros region.

Once, he went to plunder a Chapel dedicated to St. George on Mt. Nysa, near Tryphos, in an area with springs. The Divine Liturgy, however, was being celebrated at the time, and he found himself before a marvelous sight. God opened the eyes of his wretched — yet, it seems, well-disposed — soul, and he saw the serving Priest, surrounded by light, being supported in the air by Holy Angels! He saw the Divine Infant being sacrificed, being partaken of, and ascending whole and in ineffable glory into the Heavens!

Unknown artist

Father John of Nikopolis

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Barbaros was astounded and fell at the feet of the pious Priest, Father John of Nikopolis, who received him, like a good shepherd, comforted him, catechized him, Baptized him, and

became his spiritual Father and guide. By the Saint’s own request, he was given the name “Barbaros” (barbarian) to remind him of his former behavior and way of life.

José Leonardo

Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, circa 1635

Oil on canvas

77 x 46 3/4 in. (195.58 x 118.74 cm)

Private collection, Spain

José Leonardo, known also as Jusepe Leonardo (Calatayud, 1601 – Zaragoza, 1652), was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period, active during his maturity in the royal court in Madrid.

Leonardo was born at Calatayud in the Province of Zaragoza, and was a pupil of Eugenio Caxés. He trained with Pedro de las Cuevas, and became known for his battle paintings. He was painter to the king, and executed for the palace of Buen Retiro works worthy of celebrity; among them the Surrender of Juliers and the March of the Duke of Feria‘s Troop upon Acqui. There is also a portrait of Alaric the Goth in the Royal collections. His The Brazen Serpent is still in Madrid.

Leonardo was one of the artists used to decorate the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, restored by King Philip IV of Spain. Félix Castello and Leonardo painted the vaults of the Sacristy of the Royal Chapel. He was unable to finish the Reliquary in the same chapel and, in 1648, another painter was contracted. He apparently became an alcoholic, demented, and died at Zaragoza. His enemies were accused of having poisoned him. More on José Leonardo

The Saint’s repentance was so profound that he was tonsured a Monk and remained there, in the place of his spiritual rebirth, living like the Venerable Forerunner in the desert, St. John the Baptist. He even wore chains strapped around himself, to wear out his flesh and bring it into subjection.

Jan Wildens (Flemish, 1586–1653)

Meleager and Atalanta hunting the Calydonian boar

Oil on Canvas

132 x 215 cm. (52 x 84.6 in.)

Private collection

Jan Wildens (1586 in Antwerp – 16 October 1653 in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman specializing in landscapes. His Realist landscapes show an eye for detail and have a serene character. He was a regular collaborator with Rubens and other leading Flemish Baroque painters of his generation in whose compositions he painted the landscapes. More on Jan Wildens

Certain hunters from Nikopolis, while passing through the area of Tryphos where the springs were, saw the Saint in the twilight and took him for game. Thus, they shot their arrows at him. But horror soon overcame them when they realized their fatal mistake!

The Saint, as he lay dying, gathered up his strength and called out: “Drink, O Barbaros, of the cup which you offered to others!” And he gave thanks to God, Who had led him out of the darkness of deception and led him to the light of the Truth by means of his spiritual Father and benefactor, the Priest John. Thus, in prayer and thanksgiving, his soul passed into eternity. More on Barbaros the Myrrhgusher 

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

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