 
|
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Flanders, c. 1630-1632
Oil on wood
186 x 85 cm
Inv. no. 959
In 1630, Rubens married Helena Fourment, daughter of a wealthy silk and tapestry merchant in the city of Antwerp. The painter’s second wife and thirty-six years his junior appears frequently in his production from then on, whether in mythological compositions or in individual and family portraits.
This painting shows great technical virtuosity in the plasticity of the powerful volumes and in the fabrics and flesh tones. The low horizon accentuates the monumental verticality of the sitter. The outfit she is wearing, a black satin dress and wide-brimmed hat with an ostrich feather, reflects the fashion among the prosperous bourgeoisie of the time.
The resulting portrait, like all Rubens’ works, is one of great visual impact, testifying to a great creative talent that marked the best of the baroque style in Flanders. The painting formed part of the collection of Catherine II of Russia.
Provenance / Bibliography |
|
  |
|
