Peter Paul Rubens was born in Germany, but grew up mainly in Antwerp, Belgium. Immediately after he finished his artist training, Rubens headed towards Italy where he copied and studied the old master drawings and paintings. After he returned, Rubens had much more of an Italian style, often emulating the old masters. Even while he was alive, Rubens was recognized as a great artist and had many commissioned works, especially "historical pieces" about religious stories or mythical subjects. He was so renowned that he even became a court painter for Archduke Albert and Archduchess Isabella of Belgium. Rubens was not only an artist though, he was also a diplomat. Rubens would become an Ambassador to the King of Spain and would negotiate a peace treaty between England and Spain for which he would be knighted in both counties. A little interesting excerpt about Ruben's family (from peterpaulrubens.org)
"Peter Paul Rubens was probably born on June the 28th 1577 in Siegen, Germany. His parents Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelinckx had left the catholic Spanish-dominated city of Antwerp because of their Calvinist sympathies. The family had moved to Cologne with the children. Father Rubens, however, nearly escaped death sentence in Cologne after an affair with the princess of Orange. Mother Rubens managed to have her husband freed and the family accepted to be exiled to Siegen, Westphalia. It was there that the sixth child, Peter Paul, was born." More artwork by Rubens http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/ More information about Rubens http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/peter-paul-rubens
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