The Women in Rubens’ Life

Interesting online lecture from the Wallace Collection looking at Ruben’s women both his wives and his patrons.

Nils Buettner, State Academy of Arts Stuttgart and Cordula Van Wyne, University of York had a dynamic discussion on the topic. I would say the talk was more about how Ruben’s portrayed women rather than his relationship with him but it was still useful. They began by looking at the ideal female form at the time and how he portrayed that both in nudes and in the clothed figures. They discussed the role of studying classical statues in this.

They then looked at Rubens’ two marriages both to much younger women which was usual for the time. They pointed out that he was as much marrying the families as the women. I liked the approach of taking portraits of them both to explain their roles and lives.

Finally they discussed his two important female patrons the Infanta Isabella and Marie de Medici. They talked about the role of powerful ruling women at the time and how their commissions reflected there interests as did how Ruben’s portrayed them in portraits.