Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)

• Was a Flemish painter.
• Rubens's last decade was spent in and around Antwerp.

• In 1630, four years after the death of his first wife Isabella, the 53-year-old painter married his first wife's niece, the 16-year-old Hélène Fourment.

• Hélène inspired the voluptuous figures in many of his paintings from the 1630s.
• In the latter painting, which was made for the Spanish court, the artist's young wife was recognized by viewers in the figure of Venus.
• In 1635, Rubens bought an estate outside Antwerp, the Steen, where he spent much of his time.

• The displayed painting is a crop from: Peter Paul Rubens, Hygeia, Goddess of Health, ca. 1615.

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