Portrait of a woman Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)

Description of the painting "Portrait of a Woman" by Peter Rubens

Paul Rubens is a typical representative of the Renaissance, with its inherent desire to exalt ancient images while creating true masterpieces of painting and sculpture. The artist pays special attention to the painting of female portraits.

In the Middle Ages the image of naked female bodies was a taboo, the Renaissance allowed to look at this subject from a completely different point of view. The female body is part of nature, and nature is henceforth seen as the embodiment of the divine thought. There is nothing more divine than the beauty of the female body.

The beauty of most of Rubenov’s women is far from the generally accepted notions, both of his contemporary era and of the present time. The artist depicts women with magnificent forms, to them he feels special love and reverence. It should be noted that women with such a figure attracted the painter not only in work, but also in private life. The images of both his wives are reflected in many of the artist’s works.

However, do not think that the models of Rubens’s paintings were only women. During his 8 years in Italy, he painted dozens of portraits of men, women and children, mostly of the aristocracy. Each picture impresses with the play of colors, the artist skillfully uses light and shadow, with great love drawing the smallest particles and details.

The artist pays special attention to the eyes and hands of the models. Most of those depicted in the portraits look straight and confident, with a smile frozen on their lips. The artist is not afraid to highlight the imperfection of the female body, on the contrary, he emphasizes it, but does it so inspired that the viewer does not create even the thought of trying to make fun of such a vision of female beauty.

Rubens’ works reflect the incipient Baroque, the heavy beauty of which still yields to the desire to convey living reality.