THE HAND OF ANTWERP

Acrylic on wood panel. This painting was inspired by our bike trip through Belgium. The statue in the centre of Antwerp shows a man throwing a hand... Antwerp translates to "hand throwing"

the city got its name from a legend about a giant called Antigoon who lived near the Scheldtriver. He exacted a toll from passing boatmen, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river. Eventually the giant was killed by a young hero named Silvius Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen, akin to Old Englishhand and wearpan (to throw), which has evolved to today's warp.