Peter+Paul+Rubens+(Rubens)

=Rubens=

Brussels
Peter Paul Rubens, better known just as Rubens, was a famous artist best known for his //Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma//. Rubens was born in the city of Siegen on June 28, 1577. His life at home was not easy with his father imprisoned for having an affair and then dying two years later. In 1589, Rubens moved to Antwerp with his mother at the young age of twelve. As soon as the family was settled in Antwerp, Belgium, Rubens started studying Latin literature and by the time he was fourteen he had started an artistic apprenticeship. Soon enough he was studying under two of most well known painters of the time, Adam van Noort and Otto van Veen. By 1598, his education was complete and he was enrolled in Guild of St. Luke as an independent master.

Rubens traveled all over the world studying artwork from many different artists. He went to places like Italy and was influenced by artists such as Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. He also went to Spain and was influenced by the artist Raphael. While in Spain, Rubens studied Philip II’s massive collection of artwork. He was very inspired by Titian’s //Charles V at Mühlberg// which led him to painting //Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma//. That painting remains his most famous and was the one to kickstart his artistic career. Rubens painted over forty famous paintings in his entire career. On May 30, 1640, Rubens died of heart failure. He left his art and legacy to his wife and eight children.

Rubens most famous painting, //Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma//, was, like I said before, heavily inspired by one of Titian’s pieces. The painting now sits in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. This painting is a portrait of the Duke of Lerma at the time of 1603 and is still the very reason Rubens’ career started.

Antwerp in Brussels was extremely affected by Rubens existence and career in a few ways, one being that he grew up and started his apprenticeship and artistic education there. Another was that right after his mother’s death in 1608, Rubens moved back to Antwerp and in 1609 he was named not only court painter, but ambassador and diplomat. He taught many students and painted for many clients in Antwerp and carried on his life as well. Rubens will forever be well remembered and well known for his amazing artistic skills and impressive upbringing into his artistic lifestyle.