Biography
Peter Paul Rubens is the greatest genius of his time. His name is forever fixed in the history of art. The artist with a capital letter, as you know, was also a wonderful person: beautiful, smart, energetic and self-confident. The artist who in his life did not doubt his work.Childhood and youth
Peter Rubens was born on June 28 in 1577 in the German city of Siegen. Although some disputes arise from the date of birth: the biography of the artist is repeatedly rewritten. His family emigrated from Belgium to Germany during the civil war and terror against Protestants in the Netherlands.
The Father of the artist, Jan Rubens, was a city judge in the Belgian Antwerp until 1568. Maria Paipelinks's wife brought up four children. The whole family was in Germany, and at this time there were still three more children. Among them was Peter Rubens.
The first eleven years of childhood painting took place in Cologne. Father continued to work as a lawyer, mother - to educate children. The familiar stability staggered when a prominent and rich head of the family entered into relations with the wife of Wilhelm Orange, Anna.
After that, Jan Rubens deprived property and the right to work by a lawyer, and Mary had to trade vegetables in the market to feed the children. From Cologne Rubens, together with his wife and the offspring, was sent to Siegen in 1573.
In 1587, Jan Rubens died of illness. At the same time, Paipelinks lost several children. Rubens widow adopted Catholicism and returned to his homeland in Antwerp. Children went to Latin school.
At that time, changes took place in the city. It became impossible to continue to engage in trade because of the closed sea routes. Each of the children of Rubens was to find their place in life. Girls became worst husbands wives. One of the sons, Philip, went in the footsteps of the Father, studying on a lawyer. Senior Jan Baptist professionally engaged in painting.
Painting
In the 16th century, large changes took place in the art of art. Flemish invented paint for drawing, more comfortable and practical. It is based on oil flax. It added brightness to paints and increased drying time. The paintings became deeper, and the work turned into slower pleasure.
Peter Paul from childhood attracted art. From the age of 14, he studied the craft from local artists. The basics of the future painter compiled at the landscapeist Tobias Warhaht, who was associated with him relationship.
The second master in the life of Rubens was another relative: Adam Van North. Peter Paul intended to have a knowledge from the famous artist, not obtained while working with Warhaht. Four years old student worked under Norta supervision. During this time, young Peter penetrates interest in the Flemish atmosphere. Later it affected his work.
In 1595, a new stage begins in the works of Peter Rubens. The next teacher becomes Otto Van Veen (at that time one of the most influential artists). He is called the founder of mannerism and the main mentor of Rubens, whose talent acquired new faces during training.
Peter Paul Rubens did not write in the manner of Veane, even though his style and had a great influence on the worldview of the artist. The mentor has become an example of multifaceted and education. In child years, Rubens stretched to knowledge, studied languages (owned free six languages) and humanitarian sciences.
Otto's lessons Van Veen Rubens took until 1599, and then in the official status of the "Free Artist" in 1600 went to Italy to improve the skill and admire the work of antiquity.
At that time, the painter was 23 years old, but he had already possessed his own handwriting, thanks to which St. Petersburg Rubens was invited to serve at Vincenzo Gonzaga, the ruler of Mantu. Duke was fond of antique art, loved the pictures of the Renaissance. Rubens often wrote copies for him.
Eight years, Peter Paul spent the gonzhag court at the courtyard. It is believed that the service is a successful decision for the artist, since the church power of that time began to oppose the heresy in the paintings of modern artists.
During the time spent in Italy, a young painter visited Rome, Madrid, Venice, Florence. Performed instructions of a diplomatic nature.
In 1608, Rubens hurriedly returned to Antwerp, learning about the death of the mother. He did not plan to depart back to Italy: the loss seemed so hard that the artist was thinking about leaving the monastery. But Peter could not leave the painting. In addition to numerous orders from rich inhabitants of the native city, he received an offer to work at the court of Ertzgezzog Albert.
In Antwerp, the artist became one of the popular. He tried to manage to fulfill the orders of Ersgertzog, paint the cathedral and writing paintings for hundreds of other residents of the city. In 1618, a masterpiece "Union of Earth and Water" appeared. It pronounced the influence of Italian artists on the style of painter. It was believed that the main idea of the canvas was the unity of Antwerp and the Shelda River.
The volume of orders has become much larger, and Peter Paul has opened his own workshop. Now he, once a diligent student, shared knowledge with young dating (in history, there were such names like Jordan Jordan, France Sneders). Pupils performed numerous orders of citizens. This eventually became a well-thought-out system, a school of arts.
Meanwhile, in 1620 another work of art appears, the top of the work of Rubens - Perseus and Andromeda, the plot of which is associated with the ancient myth, which Peter Paul was fascinated.
Closer to 1630 Peter Rubens tired saturated lifestyle. For some time he stayed in solitude, creating another ingenious picture. "Three graces" and "Court of Paris" are the embodiment of their author's nature. Rubens always attracted the beauty and plasticity of the volume female body
"Susanna and Elders" became the classic of Flemish painting. The plot faced to the Old Testament. Rubens paintings belonging to the cathedrals are associated with the Scriptures ("Last Supper", Samson and Dalila), although his work more covers another area of life - bright, lush, dramatic. Not all church oriental patterns caused approval. One of these is the "Cross Exaltation". She was considered very contradictory.
"The beating of innocent" personifies the scene from the Bible, when Herod extermined the babies, fearing the coming of Jesus. Biographers write that this work has fallen in love with the author more than anyone else.
Another monument of the Baroque era is a frightening "jellyfish". The reaction of contemporaries on this picture justified the expectations of Peter Rubens. People were frightened by the frankness of the work. The artist was not indifferent to the political affairs of Antwerp.
His creativity has long been associated with politics, including "Medusa", which local residents regarded as a warning sign.
Peter Paul Rubens, thanks to the paintings and diplomatic abilities, managed to achieve peace between Madrid and London. The artist dreamed of influence the course of the war in the native country, but this could not be done. After numerous trips, 50-year-old Rubens Donkey in Antwerp finally.
Personal life
After returning from Italy, Rubens took Izabella Branta, an 18-year-old daughter of the official.
Marriage was based on the calculation, although the young girl was surrounded by the care and attention of Rubens of 17 years. The first wife gave birth to Peter Paul three children. In 1630, she died from a heart attack.
In 50 years, Peter Rubens married again. 16-year-old Elena Furman is the last love of the artist, his main muse, the mother of five children.
Death
In 1640 Peter Paul Rubens fell ill. Because of the age, the artist could not recover from the disease. Flemish painter died on May 30 near the children and his beloved wife Elena.Work
- 1610 - "Cross Exaltation"
- 1610 - "Samson and Dalila"
- 1612 - "Beating innocent"
- 1612 - "Beating innocent"
- 1614 - "Removing from the Cross"
- 1616 - "Hummer Hummet and Crocodile"
- 1618 - "Abduction of the Daughters of Levkippa"
- 1626 - "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary"
- 1629 - "Adam and Eve"
- 1639 - "Court of Paris"