Peter Paul Rubens
1630/45
Medium
Etching and engraving in black on cream laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 23.4 × 15.6 cm (9 1/4 × 6 3/16 in.); Sheet: 24.4 × 16.6 cm (9 5/8 × 6 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
40438
Art Historical Context
This etching and engraving by Flemish printmaker Paul Pontius presents a striking portrait of the celebrated Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. Created between 1630 and 1645, the work captures Rubens during the height of his international fame, when his dynamic compositions and rich color palette defined Northern European art. Pontius, who frequently collaborated with Rubens’ studio, translated the painter’s lively presence into the precise lines of print media, allowing viewers to connect with the master’s charismatic personality. The medium itself highlights the artistic innovations of the ...