Louis Moritz

Louis Moritz
(The Hague 1773-1850 Amsterdam)

Zeus halts the chariot of Diomedes and Nestor with a bolt of lightning

Oil on canvas 100 x 82cm
Circa 1810

The painting depicts a scene from the Iliad:

Homer, Iliad book VII, verse 128 and further"
Then there would have been havoc and doings beyond all remedy, and the Trojans would have been penned back in Ilios like lambs, if the father of men and gods had not quickly seen it. He thundered fearfully, and let fly a vivid lighnining-bolt, and hurdled it to the ground in front of Diomedes’ horses. The burning sulphur gave of a terrible flare, and the horses shied back in panic in their harness. The shining reins dropped from Nestors’ hands, and he felt terror in his hart and said to Diomedes” ‘Son of Tydeus, come, turn your strong footed horses back in flight. Can you not see that Zeus’ aid to victorie is not with you? Now Zeus the son of Kronos is granting Hektor the glory for today – another time he will give it to us, if that is his will. No man, not even the strongest can resist the purpose of Zeus, since his power is far greater than ours.’
Already in 1820 this painting was referred to in literature:

Roeland van Eijden and Adriaan van der Willigen, Geschiedenis der Vaderlandsche Schilderkunst sedert de helft der XVIII eeuw, deel III, Haarlem 1820. Under Louis Moritz, page 176: "Op de Amsterdamsche Tentoonstelling in 1810 ... zag men: Diomedes, daar de bliksem voor zijne voeten nederslaat, en zijn paarden doet verschrikken." (“At the Amsterdam expostion in 1810 …one saw: Diomedes, as lightning strikes in front of him and scares his horses”)

The exposition referred to is the biennial exposition of contemporary artists in Felix Meritis in Amsterdam in 1810.

Louis Moritz was in The Hague at 29 October 1773 and died in Amsterdam on 22 November 1850. He was member of the Royal Dutch Institute in Amsterdam and the Royal Academies in Brussels and Gant. He worked in The Hague, Amsterdam 1810-1847, Leiden and again in Amsterdam. He painted portraits, historic scenes and later in his life more horses like stable interiors, and horsback riding soldiers. He also made etchings

Museums:
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: a.o. Kozak encampment; de music lesson; a portrait; the death of Antonius Pius.
R.C. church Amsterdam: an altarpiece.
Museum De Lakenhal Leiden: two portraits of a man and a woman (both unsigned)
Museum Boymans-van Beuningen Rotterdam: a stable with a white horse
Rijksprentenkabinet Amsterdam: drawings (portraits).
Rijksprentenkabinet Leiden: self portrait with a dog (drawing).
Cityhall Tilburg: Willem II, as Prince of orange in the Battle of Waterloo.