Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) Artist and Diplomat: Self Portrait

Location

Country: UK
City: Northern Ireland
Place: Belfast, Historic Royal Palaces (long-term loans), Hillsborough Castle

Peter Paul Rubens was born in Antwerp, the son of a lawyer. He became master of the Guild of Painters of Antwerp in 1598. In 1600, he visited Italy to study ancient sculpture and the Old Masters. He returned in 1608 and was appointed court painter by Archduke Albert. He mainly produced biblical subjects, completing some 60 altarpieces in the late 1610s and early 1620s. He became Advisor and Agent to Archduchess Isabella, helping unite the Netherlands. From 1629 he was Secretary to the Privy Council of the Netherlands, visiting London to achieve an Anglo-Spanish peace agreement. During this visit he accepted several commissions, including ceiling canvases for the Banqueting House for Charles I. In 1630 he returned to Antwerp. He died at 62.

People

Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)

Places

Subjects

painter, artist (as Subject), male portrait, self-portrait, beard, moustache, man, 17th century costume, tassel, Knight, diplomat

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Peter Paul, (After) Rubens

Title

Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) Artist and Diplomat: Self Portrait

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 74.50 cm, width: 62.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from the British Museum, June 1946.

Provenance

Collection of the British Museum; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in 1946

GAC number

21