Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens (b.1577-d.1640) is one of the greatest Netherlandish painters and draughtsmans. He was born in Germany while his Protestant father was in exile. Rubens did not return to Antwerp until after his father's death in 1589.

He was then brought up as a devout Catholic and received a classical education before studying art with three successive Flemish artists. He became a member of the Antwerp Painters' Guild in 1598. Between 1600 en 1608 Rubens travels through Spain and Italy, where he is influenced by the works of Michelangelo and Raphael. Upon his return to Antwerp, Rubens became painter to the Archduke and opened his own studio. In 1609 he married Isabella Brandt. His Antwerp period (1608-1618) is characterized by its abundance of portraits. As spokesman for the Catholic Counter Reformation, Rubens painted many religious works for various churches and cathedrals during this period.

After his first wife died in 1626, Rubens sets out on his travels once again. The years 1622-1632 were the period of his great international commissions, such as the Medici cycle for the Luxembourg Palace. These years are marked by splendid pictorialism and rapidity of technique. He married the young Helene Fourment in 1630. From 1632 to the end of his life in 1640, he lived in his castle at Steen, where he began to paint landscapes with renewed interest.