Jan van Helmont (painter)

Jan van Helmont[1] (Antwerp, 14 February 1650 – d. between 1714 and 1734) was a Flemish painter of history subjects, genre scenes and portraits.

An example is the Coat of arms in an oval flanked by angels (c. 1674 British Museum), which is an engraving by Bouttats after a drawing by van Helmont of a memorial plaque for the noble lady Isabelle de Berchem.

[8] Jan van Helmont created history paintings on religious subjects for churches throughout Flanders including in Aalst, Willebroek and Wambeek.

Guardroom scenes often included mercenaries and prostitutes dividing booty, harassing captives or indulging in other forms of reprehensible activities.

[12] It is possible that in line with the moralizing intent of the genre, the armour is a reference to the vanitas motif of the transience of power and fame.