(Peter Paul) Rubens

Painter, born in Siegen, WC Germany. He was educated at Antwerp, and was intended for the law, but began to study art, travelling to Venice in 1600. He entered the service of the Duke of Mantua, and was sent to Spain as a diplomat (1605). There he executed many portraits and works on historical subjects. He then travelled in Italy, producing work much influenced by the Italian Renaissance, and in 1608 settled in Antwerp, becoming court painter to the Archduke Albert. His triptych ‘The Descent from the Cross’ (1611–14) in Antwerp Cathedral is one of his early masterpieces. He became a prolific and renowned painter, and in 1622 was invited to France by Marie de Médicis, for whom he painted 21 large subjects on her life and regency (Louvre). He was sent on a diplomatic mission to Philip IV of Spain (1628), and there executed some 40 works. The following year he became envoy to Charles I of England, where his paintings included ‘Peace and War’ (National Gallery, London). He was knighted by both Charles I and Philip IV. In 1630 he retired to Steen, where he engaged in landscape painting.

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Flemish artist Paul Rubens (composer) (fl. 1900), co-lyricist of Florodora Alma Rubens (1897-1931), American actor Bernice Rubens (1928-2004), Welsh novelist Shona Rubens (born 1986), Australia-born Canadian skier Heinrich Rubens (1865-1922), German physicist