Czére Andrea szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei (Budapest, 2008)

TERÉZ GERSZI: Frans Floris' Early Drawings in Budapest

JAN VAN STALBURCH ATTER FRANS FLORIS. APOLLO AND THE MUSES, ENGRAVING greatly contribute to the decorativeness of the composition and the individual figures. The differences on the other hand result from the different purposes of the two works: the engraving is a carefully elaborated composition following the traditional approach to the theme, while the Budapest drawing is a persiflage of the same theme, an ironic piece, a quick and slightly caricature-like sketch. In Italian renditions of the theme Apollo, who conducts the music of the muses, usually slightly stands out from among the group of female figures, mostly depicted as he is playing music, but in the Budapest work he lies stretched out, closely surrounded by the ring of the muses. He rests his left arm on his lute, and his outstretched right leg is placed in the lap of one of the muses who appears not to be at all disturbed by it pressing Apollo's leg to her body with both arms. As if this was a customary situation, the attention of the others is focused on