Peter Paul Rubens: The Consequences Of War

Peter Paul Rubens was born in 1577 within a quaint German town called Siegen. Peter Paul Rubens was known as a Flemish artist and lived a very successful life in doing so. Peter led a wealthy life, having been raised by a family of spice merchants. His father, Jan Rubens was responsible for much of Peter’s success since birth. Peter’s father Jan, was a successful lawyer in Antwerp, Belgium, who decided to leave the city in effort to escape the religious war. Peter’s life had unexpectedly changed for the worse when his father died in 1587, with only his wife to raise Peter and his two siblings, a brother and sister. At the age of fourteen, Peter began taking formal classes with Adam van Noort in Adams’s private studio. Peter then moved onto
Helena inspired many of Peter’s personal and public portraits. Peter’s marriage with Helena yielded five children, of which one was born after his death. Shortly after his marriage with Helena, Peter designed his last tapestry for his father-in-law, Daniel Fourment. Prior to Rubens death he had created a painting in which titled the “Consequences of War.” The painting struck my interest for a variety of reasons so I decided to take an endeavor into the story behind this beautiful and magnificent artwork The “Consequences of War” painting by Peter Rubens is a representation on one of the most shameful periods in European history. The European war which spanned for thirty years, known as the Thirty Years’ war, was conducted from 1618 through 1648. The war resulted in widespread destruction across just about every major European nation. It was a time of death, starvation, sorrow, fright and agony for millions of
The blood-red robe of Mars also provides vivid relief in the center of the work. It’s simple to find neutrality within “Consequences of War”. My initial feeling at first glance is just a marvelous dedication in battle, furthermore an abundant amount of achievement of art. Simply put, the painting portrays the violence and pain during the times. Rubens died on May 30, 1640, shortly after his creation of the “Consequences of War” painting and was buried in the church of St. James in Antwerp. Rubens successor was Jacob Jordaen since Van Dyck passed away just a year later. The influence Ruben had unintentionally left behind spread to Italy and further into the late Baroque paintings. Rubens achieved so much in his life that he was believed to have embodied the Baroque fulfillment of a Renaissance Man. An interesting asset about the “Consequences of War” painting was the fact that Rubens' attached commentary. Although lengthy, his commentary is well worth the read. I quoted the commentary directly from a blog resource I found on the