Momus Criticizing the Works of the Gods

This is one of the most complex pictures by the Dutch painter Maarten van Heemskerck (1498–1574). Its theme is taken from a text by the ancient satirist Lucian.

In Lucian’s text, the gods compete to see who can produce the most perfect work of art. Poseidon creates a bull, Athena a house, and Hephaistos a human figure.

When the gods come to Momus to be the judge of their efforts, he finds something to criticise in all of them.

In the centre stands Hephaistos, the god of fire, forge, and craftsmen. Leaning against his heavy blacksmith’s hammer, he gestures to the maiden he has created at his side.

Athena, the goddess of peace, war, and wisdom, holds her shield adorned with the head of Medusa ...

... and points to the palace she has created in the background.

Momus stands on the right wearing a stern expression.

In his arms he holds a small statue with a barred window into its chest, to which he gestures emphatically. The meaning of this curious posture is explained in the text at the lower edge of the picture:

“Born of Night and fatherless, I call myself Momus. As the companion of Invidia, I love to criticise everything in the smallest degree. My plea is for men to be created with a window into their breast so that this cavity will not conceal anything from all those who keep their eyes and ears open.”

The ground around this text gives a clue to the picture’s ultimate message: While the gods stand upon a blooming field…

… Momus is isolated on the bedrock, which is as barren and fruitless as his unjustified criticism.

That Momus’s criticism is untenable is also indicated by Hephaistos’s maiden – her form is based on the renowned ancient sculpture Venus Felix.

The competition among divine artists and Momus’s criticism of their creations is thus an expression of an old theme: envy and resentment are the great enemies of art.