Sir Peter Paul Rubens
Sir Peter Paul Rubens, (1577-1640). Flemish painter. He travelled widely in Europe before becoming court painter in Antwerp in 1608. His elaborate and colourful paintings, such as Descent from the Cross (1611-14), earned him a wide reputation and numerous commissions. After working on a series of paintings for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris he undertook diplomatic missions to Spain and England (1629). He was knighted by Charles I for his designs for the ceiling of the Whitehall banqueting hall. During his years of fame Rubens received more orders than he could cope with at his Antwerp studio; many of his ‘middle period’ paintings were largely the work of his pupils.
