Click on a heading in the left frame to view a group of oil sketches relating to a particular theme, or select a thumbnail to see and read more about an individual work. Texts are adapted from the exhibition catalog. Purchase the catalog.

Introduction The Church Triumphant Rubens as Entrepreneur: Designs for Sculpture, Architecture and Prints History and Politics: Glory to the Hero The Workings of the Studio: Head Studies, Portrait and Genre Myth and Majesty: The Humanistic Tradition Landscape and Hunt Scenes: Projects for Philip IV The Church Triumphant In 1545, the Holy Roman Church's Council of Trent officially condemned the doctrines of Protestantism. This led to the Counter-Reformation, a fervent reinvigoration of the Catholic faith in Europe, accomplished by a dramatic rise in the construction of new churches and the lavish decoration of existing ones. During his career, Rubens created works for virtually every Catholic religious order. These works reflected his deep understanding of the theological arguments and visual rhetoric needed to support this resurgence of the Catholic faith. Peter Paul Rubens Adoration of the Magi, ca. 1617-18 Oil on panel, 48.2 x 64.8 cm Private Collection (Courtesy David Koetser, Zurich) About this work Peter Paul Rubens Christ on the Cross, ca. 1618-20 Oil on panel, 20.3 x 15.3 cm Otto Naumann, Ltd., New York About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Virgin as the Woman of the Apocalypse, ca. 1623-24 Oil on panel, 63.5 x 49.2 cm The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, acc. no. 85.PB.146 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Glorification of the Eucharist, ca. 1633-35 Oil on panel, 71.1 x 48.3 cm The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Ogden Mills, 1929. (37.160.12) www.metmuseum.org About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Martyrdom of St. Paul, ca. 1637 Oil on panel, 38 x 22.9 cm Private collection About this work The Jesuit Church at Antwerp Peter Paul Rubens St. Gregory of Nazianzus, 1620-21 Oil on panel, 50.2 x 65.4 cm Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, George B. Matthews Fund, 1952, inv. 1952:14 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Last Supper, 1620-21 Oil on panel, 43.8 x 44.1 cm Seattle Art Museum, Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, acc. no. 61.166 About this work Triumph of the Eucharist Series Peter Paul Rubens The Gathering of Manna, ca. 1626 Oil on panel, 64.8 x 52.3 cm Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Frances and Armand Hammer Purchase Fund, inv. M.69.20 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy in Adoration, ca. 1626 Oil on panel, 66.7 x 46.7 cm The Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky, Gift in memory of George W. Norton IV, by his mother, Mrs. George W. Norton, Jr., and his aunt, Mrs. Leonard T. Davidson, 1966.16 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, ca. 1628 Oil on panel, 66 x 82.5 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Gift of Syma Busiel, 1958.4.1 (1506) About this work Peter Paul Rubens Charity Enlightening the World, ca. 1627-28 Oil on panel, 36.8 x 29.4 cm Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Museum Purchase, acc. no. AC 1961.142 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Succession of the Popes (Allegory of Eternity), ca. 1626 Oil on panel, 66 x 34.3 cm San Diego Museum of Art (Gift of Anne R. and Amy Putnam, 1947; funds for Nazi-era restitution settlement provided by the estate of Walter Fitch III, 2004), inv. 1947:8 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Triumph of Hope, ca. 1625 Oil on panel, 16 x 19 cm Collection Richard L. Feigen About this work

Bruce Museum of Arts and Science :: 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut :: 203.869.0376   UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive :: 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California :: 510.642.0808   Cincinnati Art Museum :: 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio :: 513.721.ARTS   Questions or comments about this site? :: Copyright Information