Peter Paul Rubens Page 1

ART-1020-004-Su15
Prof. Haring
Research Paper
Sterling Hite

Introduction
There are many artists who have earned their place in history each for their own particular
pallet and style. One artist who has earned his place is Flemish born, Peter Paul Rubens. With a main
subject focus of nudes in realism, what makes his work of special interest is his touch of mythological
and religious texture. Many artists werent recognized for their genius until after they have died, like
Van Gogh and Picasso, but Rubens did not suffer such a fate. His work was sought after by many
influential people during his career, including kings. He enjoyed an active career that was also enjoyed
by his wife and five children.

Personal Life
Rubens was born in Siegen, Germany in 1577 to Jan and Maria Rubens who fled to German from
the Spanish Netherlands to escape religious prosecution. Maria and the seven children returned to their
homeland, Antwerp, after the death of Rubens father in 1587. Peter apprenticed under a few different
artists beginning with Tobias Verhaecht, a landscape painter, Adam van Noort for four years, and then
he fell under the wing of Otto van Veen who was dean of the painters guild and Antwerps most
prominent artist ("Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist | Britannica.com," n.d.). Peter married
Isabella Brant in 1609. She died in 1626 at 34 years of age of the bubonic plague. Rubens
remarried in 1630 to

Helena Fourment who was just 16 years old at the time. They

had five children together ("Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist | Britannica.com," n.d.).

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Career
Getting started. After moving back to Antwerp, Belgium, Peter began to study art under the
apprenticeship of Tobias Verhaecht. He was a landscape artist who had a touch of surreal quality to his
work.

Rubens studied under Verhaecht for one year before studying under Adam van

Noort for another four years. Noort was a portrait artist second to his

primary works

of stained-glass design and engravings. After four years of study under Van Noort, Rubens spent the
next two years completing his studies under the wing Otto van Veen

who was Antwerps

top artist at the time ("Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist | Britannica.com," n.d.). After
completing his studies Rubens was admitted to the painters guild in 1598. Unfortunately, no one is sure
about the location or existence of his early works.
Early Career. After completing his studies and admittance to the painters guild, Rubens was
hired by the duke of Mantua, Vincenzo I Gonzaga, to make copies of renaissance paintings. Rubens
traveled to Rome in 1601 were he absorbed the newly fashionable baroque styles heavily influenced by
artists such as Annibale Carracci and Caravaggio ("Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist |
Britannica.com," n.d.). He received two commissions in Rome, the first of which was to be three
paintings for the crypt chapel of St. Helena in the Basilica of Santa Croce. The second of which was the
painting over the high altar of the Chiesa Nuova (Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella). In between the
two commissions Rubens was sent to Spain on his first diplomatic mission where he presented a
shipment of paintings to King Philip III. While there, Rubens created his first equestrian painting for the
duke of Lerma. Rubens returned to Antwerp in 1608 at the news of his mother being severely ill. She
died during his journey home. He gained his popularity in Antwerp with his painting of Adoration of the
Magi (1609; Prado)

in the town hall.

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Later Career. Rubens spent the bulk of his career in Antwerp refurbishing churches. He was very
successful during this time, buying a large home to which he added a large studio. While working on
religious paintings in Flemish churches Rubens found the time and energy to create paintings of his own
desire. These paintings contain mythological, equestrian, and nude content. He produced much work in
his career. He took on apprentices which he allowed to reproduce his works from smaller sketch pieces
under his supervision, and with his own hand putting the final touches on the pieces. He even went on
more diplomatic missions for Spain and developed a widespread recognition among the elites of
societies earning the reputation as the painter of princes and the prince of painters. In 1631, Rubens
was knighted by Philip IV. Rubens was the only painter to receive such honors by the kings of both
England and Spain ("Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist | Britannica.com," n.d.). He then
gave up his involvement in politics.
He went on producing for another 9 years at which time he died from a severe gout attack. He
did a lot of his works as commissions for royalty, although he did not leave out private parties, as well as
some personal works which his apprentices did a large portion of the actual painting. He continued to
work in this fashion until he died in 1640.

Conclusion
Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish artist during the Baroque period along with such artists as
Rembrandt, Bernini, Vermeer, and Caravaggio. He was greatly inspired by the Baroque style that was
influenced by Michelangelo and Raphael. His rich pallet and fluid movement of his works made him a
favorite among royalty and commoners alike. Rubens never lacked for work. Near the end of his life his
skill developed a style that was more free and fluid with life. I find some of his personal works to be
quite fun and very expressive, showing an educated sense of humor. If I were to study as a painter and

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lived during his time, I would like to have studied under Rubens. I would like to conclude by showing a
few of his works that really appealed to me.
This one is called Two Satyrs and is one of my favorites because
of the expression on his face that Rubens was able to portray.
Many portraits of that time were very stiff and expressionless, so
this one really struck me as ahead of its time. The work itself is
very fine, but what really attracts me to this piece is the jovial
menace that really exemplifies Rubens sense of humor as well as
his dark side.
This one is called Daniel in the Lions' Den. This one
appealed to me because Rubens so well caught the
lithe movement of the lions, as well as the ferocious
faces of the lions. If I were Daniel I would be praying
to the heavens too. To gain 100 busts and statues of
Roman origin, Rubens traded this piece, 8 other
pieces, and some money ("Daniel in the Lions' Den").
This one is titled Drunken-Silenus. This one is a very
active piece in that there is much happening not only in
the painting itself, but in the significance of the defiance of
tradition, social, and religious practices during that time
period. This is a perfect example of the progressive nature
of Rubens.

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Citations
Peter Paul Rubens Online. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/rubens_peter_paul.html
Peter Paul Rubens | biography - Flemish artist | Britannica.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Paul-Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/peter-paul-rubens9466127#early-career-and-travels
Seventeenth Century Art: The Significant Artists Of The Baroque Period. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://allthat-is-interesting.com/seventeenth-century-art-most-significant-artists-of-the-baroque-period/4
Retrieved from https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Helena+Fourment++&ei=UTF8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-003
Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Brant#/media/File:Drawing_of_Isabella_Brant_by_Peter_Paul_R
ubens.jpg
Verhaecht, T. (n.d.). Paisaje alpino(detalle).
Noort, A. V. (n.d.). est un peintre et dessinateur flamand.
"Daniel in the Lions' Den." National Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Aug. 2015.
Rubens, Peter. "two satyrs." N.p., n.d. Web.
Rubens, Peter P. "drunken-Silenus." N.p., n.d. Web.