A painter of great luck,
What does it look like?
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For many great painters who have left their names through the ages, in addition to their works, they will always have some impressive qualities. Such as Leonardo da Vinci's high iq, Picasso's amorousness, Van Gogh's sensitivity, Turner's bad temper... However, there are very few that can run through the word "shun".
In the 17th century, there was such a chosen son who perfectly interpreted the word "smooth sailing" with his life. He not only had a successful career and a harmonious family, but also became friends with the three royal families of Britain, France and Spain at the same time, and was named a nobleman of the two countries...
He is known as the great painter who is as noble and wealthy as a prince- Peter Paul Rubens.
Rubens Self-Portrait/1623
Today, we will talk about this artist with fame and fortune and friends all over the world, and see how he dispatches his "open and hanging life".
1. Birth determines destiny?
A jurist father and a wealthy merchant mother were Rubens' first fortune in the world. In this wealthy and education-oriented family, he perfectly inherited the wisdom and shrewdness of his parents.
When his father died at the age of 12, he followed his mother back to his Spanish-ruled hometown of Antwerp. There, he was baptized as a devout Catholic.
His visionary mother, Maria, not only discovered her son's talent for painting early on, but also hired many famous teachers to train his skills and cultural literacy. He was also arranged to be a waitress for many years at the side of a countess, teaching him the customs and etiquette of the nobility.
It is under such careful cultivation that Rubens developed a cheerful and talkative, generous personality. This trait also laid the perfect foreshadowing for his fairytale life.
In 1598, at the end of his studies, Rubens joined the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp and became a formal painter. Two years later, the young man embarked on a study tour in Italy with enthusiasm.
8 years of life in Italy was very important to Rubens' life. There, he was appreciated by the Duke of Mantua, and was able to see the landscapes of Italy under his patronage, and studied many masterpieces of the Renaissance.
Academy of Athens / Raphael / 1509-1511 / Vatican Palace
Mirror Woman/Titian/1515/Louvre Collection
From Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael... Rubens greedily sucked on artistic nourishment
Rubens' absorption of various painting styles can be seen in rubens' paintings from this period, titian's bright and rich use of colors, and Michelangelo's line melody, all of which had a great influence on Rubens.
Venus and Cupid/1606/Collection of the National Museum of Thyssen Bornemisza
However, the painting at this time also reveals the new changes of Rubens's personality, that kind of dramatic picture, strong sense of movement, which is the genius he injects new vitality into these visual themes.
The Fall of Farhelton / Rubens / 1604 / Collection of the National Gallery of Art
In 1603, entrusted by the Duke, Rubens was given the opportunity to go on an expedition to Spain. He never imagined that a portrait he had painted for the Spanish royal family during this period had knocked on the door of aristocratic society for his career.
This portrait of the Duke of Lerma was highly appreciated by the Duke, and with the blessing of Rubens's own demeanor, his good reputation soon spread among the nobility. Since then, from Spain to Italy, orders from the nobility have been pouring in to him.
Equestrian Statue of the Duke of Lerma/1603/Prado Museum
In this way, the lucky Rubens easily avoided the "poor" fate that many painters could not escape, and established a strong circle of people full of aristocratic fame.
Portrait by Rubens for the noble Lady Marcesa/1606-1607/Collection of the National Gallery of Art
However, this flourishing time in Italy did not last long, and Rubens ushered in another turning point in his life. And although this turning point begins with sadness, it brings him an unexpected and beautiful love.
2, too fast love can also be completed
In 1608, a hastily received letter removed Rubens from life in Italy and brought him back to Antwerp—his mother was critically ill and needed to leave for his hometown at once.
At this time, Antwerp was about to usher in winter, and the chill with the sea breeze gradually enveloped the small seaside town, and Rubens also experienced a rare unfortunate moment in his life in this winter.
When he rushed home day and night, his mother had already died. Unable to meet his mother for the last time, the painter, who had been thriving in the past, fell into a deep sense of self-blame.
Portrait of a Mother by Rubens/1608
Perhaps it was lady luck who did not want to see her darling drowning in grief for a long time, so in the spring of the following year, a woman like a warm sun was arranged to enter Rubens' life.
At the age of 18, Isabella Brant was the daughter of a powerful family in Antwerp and the niece of Rubens' sister-in-law. And when the elegant and talented Rubens appeared in front of her, isabella, who was not deeply involved in the world, immediately sank.
Understanding, she came to Rubens's side and gave her sweetheart great comfort. And Isabella's beautiful romance also deeply attracted the attention of Rubens, so the two souls who admired each other quickly fell in love and married.
1609/Kunsthalle collection
In isabella's company, Rubens gradually came out of the grief of losing his loved ones. This romantic painter painted his gratitude and affection for his wife into the painting.
Diana Returns from Hunting /1615
The eye-catching woman on the right of the picture is the one whom Rubens painted in the form of his wife
At the same time, fortunately, he was appointed as a court painter by Albert, Grand Duke of Austria, and received special permission to set up a studio in his hometown, and his career also ushered in a new peak.
Such a comfortable and comfortable life prompted Rubens to devote himself to his creation with great enthusiasm. As the experience gradually enriched and the skills gradually mastered, a baroque style that enthusiastically praised the joys of life, grandeur, rich colors, and a strong sense of movement took shape.
Daniel in the Lion's Den/1614-1616/Collection of the National Gallery of Art
His paintings often depict exciting scenes in structures with a sense of rotational movement, and in the strong contrast of light and shade of color and the flow of lines, the superb techniques of Renaissance art and the ancient national traditions of Flanders are perfectly integrated.
Looting of the daughter of Lyusipas /1618/Munich Old Painting Gallery
Abundance and sturdiness became the main feature of rubens' paintings.
The double harvest of love and career, such a life seems to others to be happy enough. However, for Rubens, who was chosen by fate, how could the end of his life be to be a court painter in Antwerp?
The gate of his summit had stood ahead for a long time, waiting only for another powerful woman to open it for him.
3, not only the painter so simple
As early as eight years of studying in Italy, Rubens visited the Spanish royal family as a diplomatic envoy. So in 1621, when he was commissioned by the Spanish crown to travel to Europe on a diplomatic mission, he was confident and calm at first.
However, when Marie de Medici, the Queen of France, excitedly approached him, the great painter sweated for his career. The arrogant empress dowager involuntarily gave him a very difficult task - to paint her magnificent life with a huge group of paintings.
Marie de' Medici / Frans Bourbes the Younger / The Louvre Collection
But in fact, the empress's life was at best a fortune teller, and it had nothing to do with grandeur and magnificence. She first married her husband, who was twenty years older than herself, because of a political marriage, and was widowed at the age of 37. After several years as empress dowager, she was exiled by her own son. Now he has returned to Paris and is under house arrest at the Luxembourg Palace.
Loved ones turned against each other, political frustrations, mary's accumulated emotions urgently needed to be cathartic, and art was the best listener.
Rubens understood better than anyone the difficulty and significance behind this errand, except for the satisfaction of the Empress, Louis XIII, who was watching from the sidelines, and all the powerful people of the dynasty who saw the wind and steered the rudder. With so many pairs of eyes watching, if this matter is not done well, it is very likely to bury his future.
Fate gave Rubens an opportunity, but without seizing its ability, the turnaround could turn into a crisis. Rubens, on the other hand, proved to the world with his superior wisdom and skill that he could become a winner in life by more than just luck.
When the 24 giant group paintings were slowly unveiled at the Luxembourg Palace, not only The Queen Mary, but also Louis XIII was stunned by the painter's brilliant ideas and brushstrokes.
The paintings were later moved to the Louvre and showed the Rubens Hall where Louis Beroux displayed his paintings
The most prestigious of these twenty-four paintings is The Landing of Queen Mary in Marseille. Setting foot on the land of France was the beginning of Mary's unfortunate life, but Rubens portrayed the scene as if the gods had descended.
Queen Mary's landing in Marseille/1621/Collection of the Louvre
Accompanied by the Grand Duchess of Tuscany and the Duchess of Mantua, Queen Mary walked calmly to the deck covered with red carpet. Ahead, France transformed into a warrior in a royal blue cape and welcomed her with open arms.
The sea god and sea fairy under the ship rose from the sea and escorted the ship to arrive safely, and the angels in the sky blew a welcome call for her. Rubens mixes history with myth to paint a hilarious picture that greatly satisfies Queen Mary's vanity.
In this painting "Commissioned to the Regent", Rubens shows his superb emotional intelligence. Henry IV gave Mary the orb symbolizing the "right of the kingdom" to represent the appointment of the regent, or the child's Louis XIII took the mother's hand, full of trust and dependence. The family, which was originally a sword-rattling and warlike family, became happy and harmonious under Rubens' pen.
"Entrusted with the Regency"/1621/The Louvre Collection
Rubens' handling not only saved Queen Mary's face, but also resolved the embarrassment between mother and son.
This fictional approach to making the plot both real and illusory finds the perfect balance between not violating history and not offending the crown, the best of both worlds.
Louis XIII, impressed by Rubens' skill and wisdom, immediately asked him to create two exquisite portraits of himself and his queen to show the importance he valued as a talented painter.
Louis XIII on the top and Anne of Austria on the bottom / These two paintings are now in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum
Although Rubens once said, "Painting is my profession, being an ambassador is my hobby." "But he was undoubtedly very successful as a diplomatic ambassador. In 1624, rubens was knighted as a Spanish nobleman for his outstanding contributions, and later in 1630, he was knighted by the English king, who contributed to the peace between Spain and England.
Pictured here is the armor given to Rubens by King Philip IV of Spain
With an astonishing achievement in painting and a career as a diplomat, Rubens definitely deserves the word "genius." However, Ruben's ability to multi-purpose is no longer a rare thing. In addition to being a diplomat, the versatile Rubens was a designer, architect and writer.
Manuscript of Rubens' design for his own Cameo / 1622
Onyx depicts Claudius and his wife Mesalina riding in a chariot pulled by a snake.
Like most celebrities of the era, Rubens loved Cameo. But unlike the aristocrats who only bought and bought, Rubens preferred to use his own brain to design jewelry. And his favorite mythological theme naturally became the protagonist.
Rubens redesigned cameo based on a rare Roman relief, reinforcing the expressions of the characters and giving him the elegant naturalism typical of his time.
Similarly, the house he lived in was designed by himself. With considerable knowledge of architectural design, he also published a book about the palaces of Genoa.
Rubens' former home in Antwerp was designed by himself
Rubens published a book with illustrations of Genoese palaces, which had a profound impact on the spread of the Genoese palace style in Northern Europe.
Such a strong desire for knowledge and a positive attitude towards life are also important reasons for Rubens' great achievements in his lifetime. What is even more precious is that he burned this passion for a lifetime, allowing himself to maintain the vitality of creation for the rest of his life.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary/1624-1626/Collection of the National Gallery of Art
Appearance of Christ/1624-1626/Collection of the National Gallery of Art
He created countless works throughout his life, and even after suffering from the deformation of his fingers due to arthritis, he continued to paint, and sometimes co-created with others
4. The last ray of sunshine
In fact, no matter how the god of fate cared for him, there was still imperfection in the master's life. In 1626, while he was in full swing, his wife, Isabella, who had been with him for twelve years, fell ill and died.
Portrait of Isabella by Rubens/1625/Uffizi Gallery
Devastated, Rubens even put down his paintbrush at one point and threw himself into his busy diplomatic work in the hope of forgetting the pain of losing his beloved wife.
Rubens is mourning his wife/painted by his student Anthony Van Dyke/1630
Until 4 years later, a bright and moving young girl Helena. Fuerman shone into his life like sunshine, healing his grief with that brilliance, and the painter's pen reborn with color.
In 1630, the 53-year-old Rubens married the 16-year-old Helena, and the huge age difference between the two not only did not affect the relationship between the husband and wife, but also pushed Rubens's later career to another peak.
Helena in a wedding dress /1630
Modeled by Helena, Rubens painted countless paintings filled with happiness. At the same time, under the influence of Helena's bright innocence, his brushstrokes began to become more and more wanton, and the color setting was more bold. Years of pure fire skills have also spawned many masterpieces.
Venus and Adonis is a prominent representative of Rubens' later period/ 1635 / Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Capture of Diana and the Mizusawa Fairies by The God of Agriculture/1639/Prado Museum
Beginning in 1635, Rubens, tired of the noisy life of the city, moved with his family to a country house on the outskirts of Antwerp. Every day after that, he would take a walk with his wife and children, look at the sunset stars, and feel the breeze from the vast wilderness.
Hunter Castle/1635-1638/Collection of the National Gallery, London
Rubens in his twilight years, the painting is a little more fresh
Rubens and Helena and their children / 1639/ Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Wealth, fame, status, love, he has had too many things in this life that others dare not expect. For Rubens at this time, fame and fortune have long been passed.
Forest of Dawn /1635/Collection of the Metropolitan Museum
"I don't think there is a lovelier soul in the world than Mr. Rubens." --Perex
As one of the greatest representatives of the Baroque style and a generation of masters of the Flemish painting world in the 17th century, Rubens' life is indeed "brilliant". Although luck gave him a blessing, he never squandered any gift.
From beginning to end, he is serious about his career, loyal to his feelings, sincere to his friends, and full of gratitude for life. Such a self-disciplined, funny, humble man, it is no wonder that he can meet Bole who helps him at every intersection.
Rubens Self-Portrait/1628
Flagona, Renoir, Waldo, and Delacroix were all influenced by him.
In 1640, at the age of 63, Rubens died of heart failure in his home. Hundreds of friends he made during his lifetime, and many royal nobles attended the funeral. A lucky opening, a glorious ending, and a brilliant life should be without regrets.
Editor | glacier
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