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Peter Paul Rubens ( PE ter PAWL ROO bunz) was born in Germany in 1577. His father died when Peter was 10 years old. His mother returned to Antwerp, their home town with the three children.
When his older sister was ready to marry, their mother spent money to provide a dowry for his sister. It was a custom for the bride to bring money to her husband when they married. The family didn't have much money left and Peter Paul, now 13 years old, and his brother had to go to work.
His mother placed him as a page, a boy servant, in the home of a countess. He stayed there for awhile, but he wanted to be a painter, so he was sent as an apprentice to a family member who was an artist. Then he went on to work with other artists. He began to teach art at the age of twenty-one.
He married a young woman who was eighteen years old,about half his age. Her name was Isabella.
The featured work on this page is a portrait he painted of the two of them shortly after their marriage. They had three children and she died after 17 years of marriage.
Four years later, he was married to Helene Fourment, a young woman only sixteen years old. They had five children and he painted many portraits of her.
In 1618 he painted A Child's Head which is believed to be a portrait of his first child, Clara Serena, who died at the age of twelve.
His father's life had been filled with scandal and he spent time in prison. In contrast, Rubens was a devoted family man and led a peaceful life.
Sir Dudley Carlton, one of his admirers, described Rubens as "prince of painters and painter of princes" because he painted several members of royal families.
As an artist in the courts he could quietly observe what was going on, and he was asked to become a diplomat to help solve political problems.
Peter Paul Rubens
As he became more famous, he became richer and had a large house in Antwerp. He was a disciplined person. He got up at 4:00 A.M. and began his work. He ate very little during the day and shared the main meal with the family in the evening.
In addition to painting pictures of people, he sometimes painted pictures of animals such as horses, cows, chickens, dogs, lions and tigers. Once he even painted a picture which included a crocodile and a hippopotamus!
In his last years he began to paint landscapes, and he loved the countryside around his home.
As he grew older he developed arthritis in his right hand, and it became difficult for him to paint.
He died at the age of 63. He left his wife Helene, now age 26, a rich widow with children. Another daughter was born after his death. None of his children became artists as he had hoped.
Source: The World of Rubens 1577-1640 by C.V. Wedgwood and the Editors of Time-Life Books
Antwerp, The Life of Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens
biography
Information about Rubens
at Humanities Web
Works of Peter Paul Rubens
search Artist Index - R - Rubens, Peter Pauwel
Helene Fourment and Her Children
Rubens' second wife
The Artist's Sons, Albert and Nicholas
The Life of Rubens
Online book
Self Portrait with Isabella Brandt, His First Wife, in the Honeysuckle Bower, circa 1609
Rubens, Peter Paul
Buy this Giclee Print at AllPosters.com
Short Lessons in Art History: Artists and Their Work
By Phyllis Clausen Barker / Walch Education
Short Lessons in Art History is a fantastic introduction to the artists who have shaped the artistic world from Giotto in 1266 to Alexander Calder in 1976. Each artist's life is explored, along with their major works, public reaction, and impact upon the world and art after their deaths. Approximately 3-4 pages are given to each of the 38 artists featured, with black and white images of one of their most famous works. A center section contains full color plates. Glossary words are included at the end of each chapter. 217 pages, softcover. Grades 6-12.
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