Peter Paul Rubens Giclée Art Prints Gallery 5 of 17

Peter Paul Rubens was a prominent Flemish Baroque painter, known for his large-scale religious and mythological scenes, portraits, and landscapes. He was born on June 28, 1577, in Siegen, Westphalia (now Germany), to Jan Rubens, a lawyer and Antwerp alderman, and his wife Maria Pypelincks. His family was forced to flee to Cologne due to his father's involvement in a scandal with the wife of William the Silent, Prince of Orange.

In 1589, after his father's death, Rubens and his family returned to Antwerp, where he received his early artistic training from Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort, and Otto van Veen. In 1600, he traveled to Italy to further study art and was heavily influenced by the works of Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian.

Rubens worked for the Duke of Mantua, Vincenzo Gonzaga, for eight years, painting various works for the duke's palace and traveling on diplomatic missions. During this time, he also visited Rome and Florence, where he copied masterpieces and studied classical art and architecture.

In 1608, Rubens returned to Antwerp after his mother's death. He was appointed court painter to the Habsburg governors of the Netherlands, Archduke Albert and Archduchess Isabella. He married Isabella Brant in 1609 and established a successful studio, employing numerous assistants and apprentices, including the young Anthony van Dyck.

Rubens's fame quickly spread across Europe, and he received commissions from various rulers, including King Philip IV of Spain, King Charles I of England, and Queen Marie de' Medici of France. His paintings were known for their dramatic, emotional intensity and sensuous color, as well as his ability to capture movement and texture.

Some of Rubens's most famous works include "The Descent from the Cross" (1612–1614), "The Raising of the Cross" (1610–1611), "The Massacre of the Innocents" (1611–1612), and "The Garden of Love" (c. 1633). He also painted numerous portraits, such as "The Four Philosophers" (c. 1611–1612) and "The Duke of Buckingham" (1625).

In 1626, Rubens's wife Isabella died, and in 1630, he married the 16-year-old Hélène Fourment. He began to focus more on landscape painting and created some of his most famous landscapes during this time, such as "The Château de Steen with Hunter" (c. 1635–1638).

Rubens also continued to work as a diplomat, helping to negotiate the Treaty of Antwerp in 1609 and the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. He was knighted by both King Philip IV of Spain and King Charles I of England for his diplomatic efforts.

Peter Paul Rubens died on May 30, 1640, in Antwerp at the age of 62. His artistic legacy has had a lasting impact on the history of European art, and his influence can be seen in the works of many later artists, including Rembrandt, Watteau, and Delacroix.