Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish painter and the towering figure of Baroque art in northern Europe. Born in 1577, he ran a huge, busy workshop in Antwerp that turned out grand, energetic paintings of religious scenes, myths, portraits, and landscapes. His work overflows with movement, rich color, and full-bodied figures, so much so that a certain type of ample figure is still called Rubenesque.

He was also a scholar and a trusted diplomat who traveled between the courts of Europe on delicate missions. Enormously successful, he was knighted by more than one monarch. Rubens's dynamic, sensual style defined the Baroque and influenced painters across the continent, securing his place as one of the giants of European art.