Artist Profile | Painting

Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens was a renowned Flemish artist, considered one of the most influential figures in the Baroque tradition of painting. Born on June 28, 1577, in Siegen, Nassau, Westphalia, which is now part of Germany, he passed away on May 30, 1640, in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands, present-day Belgium. Rubens is celebrated for his dynamic, vibrant, and sensuous artistic style, which often depicted religious and mythological subjects. His work is characterized by its emphasis on movement, color, and sensuality, aligning with the dramatic style of the Counter-Reformation period. Rubens was not only a prolific painter but also a diplomat, knighted by both Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England. He ran a large workshop in Antwerp, producing paintings that were sought after across Europe. Additionally, Rubens was a humanist scholar, an art collector, and an art dealer, contributing significantly to the cultural and political landscape of 17th-century Europe.