Continuing the theme of Rubens' work, started in one of our previous articles, let's talk about his most intimate and provocative portrait of his wife Helena Fourment. Rubens married her already more than respectable for the time - 53 years old, when he was already recognized as the best artist of the Netherlands, received the title of nobility, traveled with diplomatic assignments to all European monarchs, played an important role in establishing peace between England and Spain and contributed to the end of the 30-year war between these countries.
Rubens. Self-portrait
Rubens was also very rich, because he managed to put the production of “his” paintings on a stream. He had several workshops where apprentices and students wrote “Rubens paintings”, although in fact he often only developed the composition, completed the faces or some particularly complex elements and put his signature. Everything else - backgrounds, rich outfits, images of people, gods and animals - was painted by apprentices.
The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus
At the same time Rubens was a real businessman from art, set strict rates for his paintings - written in his studio portrait cost 2 times cheaper, but at the same time almost nothing different from the created Rubens personally, even the signature of the master had. So it is not surprising that most customers, except for the richest and fastidious, ordered works created by his numerous students and apprentices.
Landscape with rainbow
Rubens had everything but happiness in his personal life. Four years after the death of his beloved wife Isabella Brandt, with whom Rubens lived for 17 years, and he still grieved for her and considered any connection with other women as a betrayal of her memory.
Rubens and Isabella Brandt, the Honeysuckle Bower
But finally Rubensu lucky: he met a 16-year-old beauty Helena Fourment and immediately fell in love with her.
Portrait of Helena Fourment
Helena could boast neither nobility nor wealth - just the daughter of a poor merchant of carpets and trellises, who was given a very small dowry. But she was young and beautiful, reminiscent of the numerous naiads, graces and goddesses written by Rubens, only this time all the features, depicted by him in non-existent mythical characters, found a real and living embodiment.
Venus at the Mirror
Rubens had already learned to paint nudes marvelously. There was no vulgarity in it, only admiration for the beauty of the human body, and some artists even thought that Rubens added human blood to his colors, so his images of women are full of life.
The Three Graces, 1635
Rubens, realizing that his time was running out, hurried to live and enjoy life. He immediately thought of marrying Helena and even asked permission from his patron Archduchess Duchess Isabella, that he was allowed to hold a wedding ceremony in the fasting. He explained his choice as follows: “I married the daughter of an honest citizen, rather than pick up a party in the palace, because I hate the main feature of all our nobles - arrogance and pride, which manifests itself at a very early age. I do not want my wife to be embarrassed and turn away, seeing how I paint pictures, and considered this occupation something unworthy.
Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens
Rubens left the diplomatic service, settled in his luxurious country house and spent time with his young wife, creating her magnificent portraits. Helena posed willingly, not wanting to refuse her famous husband, and he did not stay in debt, often gave her furs and jewelry.
Helena Fourment in a Fur Wrap, also known as Het Pelsken
“Fur Wrap” - perhaps the most intimate portrait of Helena, of course, it was not intended for public viewing - is a pictorial reflection of the peculiar love game of the great artist. Creating a portrait gave Rubens great pleasure, and he did not refuse to stretch it. At first he writes Helena at the waist, and after attaching another board and depicts in full height.
The Judgement of Paris
But at the same time Rubens was smart enough and realized that the young wife is bored to sit in the house all the time without work. Therefore loaded the work on posing for his paintings, it was with Helena Rubens wrote Venus in the painting “The Judgment of Paris”, and one of the three graces Bathsheba. And was not afraid to argue with the customer, even if he was the Spanish king, that the nude Venus in the painting - the best that there is at all, and nudity is not sinful, even if the Catholic Church in Spain and believes otherwise. And the best thing in Rubens's life on the slope of years was Helena Fourment.
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