As soon as the Rubens House reopens, you will be able to admire his self-portrait. In anticipation, click on the image.

We possess numerous letters from the painter that give us an insight into his life and work. Yet Rubens’ deepest personality remains in the shadows behind his portraits, both the one close to the beginning of his career and the one near the end of it.

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Peter Paul Rubens talks:

All painters do it: portray themselves.

My late brother Philip (+1611) quoted a Greek philosopher: ‘know thyself’. You may argue that we mostly show ourselves from our most beautiful side, just like a painter’s model. That’s OK, I will not contradict you.

A master’s self-portrait is like a signboard for our studio: from the original painting, done by me, my staff produces copies. Such a copy can then be sent to potential customers who collect portraits of artists. This particular painting is not that large: about 24 by 18 inches (61.5 * 45 cm); so it’s easy to find a place for it.

But I must admit that I’m used to painting in a larger format,
“according to the requirements of the work/a se meliora forma”.

Think of big customers like the English King! Once I wrote to King Charles’ s artistic advisor:

“As for His Majesty and His Highness the Prince of Wales, I shall always be pleased to receive the honour of their commissions. As for the hall in the new palace, I must admit that it is more convenient for me, by a natural inclination, to produce really large works, rather than small curiosities. Each according to his ability; my gift is such that no undertaking, however enormous in quantity and variety of subjects, has ever discouraged me.”

Again, I admit as much: I am ambitious. I am especially proud that I have breathed new life into the craft of painting in our country. I do appreciate the work of my colleagues and often pay the full market price for their paintings, to enlarge my private collection.
My teacher Otto van Veen and my years in Italy have taught me that our brushes should be guided by a little more passion – warmth, movement. But at the same time, we must remain faithful to the tradition of portraying our fellow countrymen and -women true to life, with their faces, hairdos, clothing … in other words with their real characters.

Continued on Timeline: 1626 – Drawing of Isabella Brant