Godfried Maes

He was a prolific draughtsman who made designs for tapestry workshops, publishers and house decorations.

Between 1697 and 1700, he worked for Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria, at the time the Governor of the Southern Netherlands, on the decoration of the ceiling of his residence, the Palace of Coudenberg, in Brussels.

[2] He was the teacher of Willem Ignatius Kerricx, Matheus Neckens, Anthonie du Pré, Dominicus Smout, Jacob Sucquet and Gerard Thomas.

He is therefore often regarded as a representative of the last generation of Flemish artists who practised Baroque painting, before it developed into Rococo.

Maes' widow sold 45 of these drawings to the Dutch art dealer Jacob de Wit in 1717.

[6][7] Maes' designs for the Metamorphoses show a good knowledge of anatomy and a taste for drawing.

They reveal the influence of Antique models and Roman examples of the Renaissance and a similarity to the achievements of the French artists of the late 17th century.

[8] A number of Brussels tapestry producers executed suites of The Seasons and Elements and The Four Continents after designs by Godfried Maes.