Rubens at 450: Movement, Life and Colour

To mark the tremendous occasion of Peter Paul Rubens' 450th anniversary, Antwerp – the city where he spent most of his life – is celebrating with a series of not-to-be-missed exhibitions. Our tour will go in search of a variety of Rubens' works across the city, tracing this Flemish master's creative output and remarkable life.

Overview

The work of the illustrious painter and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) continues to inspire and delight art lovers with its timeless dynamism and striking narratives. Many of his works, which famously depict epic mythological scenes and religious allegories, are also inflected with political beliefs derived from his humanist education. This exquisite combination of subject, emotion, colour and movement positioned Rubens at the forefront of the Flemish Baroque movement in the 17th century, and at the age of 33 he was appointed court painter of the Netherlands. Our tour celebrates the life and work of Rubens in the 450th years since his birth, a monumental anniversary and wonderful occasion to consider his work in depth and from new perspectives. 

A variety of church settings will introduce us to the rich abundance of paintings and altarpieces composed by Rubens. At St Paul's in Antwerp, we will marvel at contrasting works including The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, brimming with tension and deliberation, as well as The Adoration of the Shepherds, where glowing light radiates from the centrally-depicted Christ child, instilling a more contemplative, tender atmosphere whilst showcasing Rubens’ expert rendering of light and depth. At St Charles Borromeo Church, meanwhile, we will view the marvellous oil painting The Return of the Holy Family, which returned to the church in 2017 after 250 years in private hands as well as time on display at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The Cathedral of Our Lady is widely regarded as a haven for the preservation of Rubens’ works in their original contexts. Among its many wonders is The Descent from the Cross, a central triptych panel projecting the essence of Rubens’ talent with its combination of dramatic narrative, captivating composition and the execution of profound emotion.

Complementing these permanent treasures, our tour will take in several highly-anticipated temporary exhibitions, designed to assemble and present Rubens’ artwork in ways that will evoke deeper consideration and fresh interpretations. Alongside their excellent permanent collections, we plan to visit the temporary exhibitions at the Snijders & Rockox House – ‘Rubens’ Lost Notebooks’ – and ‘Around Rubens’ at the Museum Plantin-Moretus. A particular highlight will be the exhibition destined for the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), ‘Rubens and the World’, informed by recent international research examining Rubens and his environment of Antwerp, a bustling port city, through the lens of early modern globalisation. 

Our study of Rubens’ life and work will conclude at the Museum of Old Masters, a branch of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, where we hope to enjoy a focussed viewing of works within the Rubens Room, a space brimming with paintings and oil sketches by the artist and his wider workshop.  

Cost Details

Rubens at 450: Movement, Life and Colour