I want to start this month with an artist from my hometown Antwerp. Researching this month’s theme I noticed that the first painting was exhibited in Lier, a small medieval town not far from Antwerp and the town where I was born.
So I planned a trip there to look at the painting. But upon arrival at the museum there I was told that this particular painting was on loan for an exhibition in … Antwerp!

Frans Floris
(1519 - 1570)
 Frans Floris, Frans Floris the Elder or Frans Floris de Vriendt  was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, print artist and tapestry designer. He is mainly known for his history paintings, allegorical scenes and portraits. He played an important role in the movement in Northern Renaissance painting referred to as Romanism. The Romanists had typically travelled to Italy to study the works of leading Italian High Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and their followers. Their art assimilated these Italian influences into the Northern painting tradition.
Floris painted some family portraits. An example is the Family portrait in the Museum Wuyts-Van Campen en Baron Caroly, Lier, which is dated 1561. It was traditionally believed to depict the Berchem family, a prominent family. However, this is no longer accepted unanimously. The painting has two inscriptions, one in the painting itself, the other on its original frame. The first inscription appears on a portrait hanging on the wall behind the figures. It states that the man depicted in the portrait died on 10 January 1559, aged 58 years. The second is the Latin text written at the top and bottom of the frame of the painting. It translates as follows: "As in life there can be nothing happier than a marriage in unison and a bed without discord, there is nothing more pleasant than to see one's offspring in unison enjoy peace with an immaculate mind, 1561”. The painting thus simultaneously served as a memento of the deceased father and an expression of the feelings of togetherness of his descendants. Floris depicts all the members of the family performing and attending a concert of music, which emphasized this notion of 'concordia', i.e. the harmony within the family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Floris

Family portrait
1561
Oil on Oak Wood
130 x 225 cm
Stedelijk Museum Lier
https://www.stadsmuseumlier.be/
Until the end of June 2022 on view in :
https://www.snijdersrockoxhuis.be/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockox_House