Petrus Paulus Rubens (1577-1640) Petrus Paulus Rubens was educated by A. van Noort and trained by local painters. Rubens became a master in 1598 in Antwerp, but developed a personal style in Italy. He remained in Italy from 1600 till 1608, with a short interruption in Madrid - where he made himself familiar with the styling of the ancient sculptors and painters of the High Renaissance, just as with the contemporary art of Caravaggio. In 1608 he established himself definitive in Antwerp. He became officially townpainter of Antwerp, illustrationdesigner for the Officiana Plantiniana and courtpainter of the archdukes Albrecht and Isabella.
In 1609 Rubens married with Isabella Brant, after which he let build a house with a gardenpavillion and workshop which is known since 1946 as the Rubenshouse. After the death of his wife in 1626 Rubens remarried in 1630 with Helene Fourment. Rubens spent the last years of his life at his country-seat in Eleweijt. His mortal remains were intered at the St.-Jacobschurch in Antwerp.
The many orders forced Rubens to have an efficient organisation. At his workshop Rubens fixed the image in an oilpaintsketch, which was submitted to the principial. At the definitive execution of the major part of the paintings Rubens was assisted by a varied group of painters (among them Anthonie van Dyck). From 1618 his paintings exhibited a more controlled, although still moved composition and a clear and warm colouring. Next to it it can't be denied that Rubens had a tendency to splendour.
Besides monumental-decorative cycles, among ceilingpaintingpieces, at this time arised large altarpieces like the Sacra conversazione (1628; St. Augustchurch, Antwerp), and cartons for carpetseries. At the last ten years of his life Rubens made his most picturial work. His wife Helene was the subject of many beautiful portraits and became also model for religious and mythological scenes. Because he made use of engravings his work circulated throughout Europe.
this document: Biography Petrus Paulus Rubens (1577-1640), Printroom of Leiden University, Leiden 1995.
last update: Wendy Hazebroek, 29 June 1995.
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