In the early 1600's, a new art form was introduced in Europe. This style replaced the mannerist style that had been dominating the art world since the late renaissance. The baroque style was everything that the mannerist was not, full of feeling and emotion rather than a perfection of the human figure. Of this new school of painting, one of the most well known artists was a Flemish painter by the name of peter Paul Rubens. .
Rubens was born into a wealthy family in 1577. His father was a well-known and important lawyer. Rubens was born in Westphalia where his father had moved his family due to religious persecution in Flanders (his father had recently become protestant). During Rubens childhood, his mother took the family back to Flanders where they reinstated themselves in the Catholic Church.
Rubens was very well educated, which was very helpful to his career. HE was fluent in many languages including French, Spanish, Latin, and Italian. HE was also very interested in theology, which provided a strong background for his religious works. .
Rubens began studying art in Flanders and was apprenticed to three Flemish painters, Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort, and Otto van Veen. His ability to grasp the techniques of painting and his unique imagination were definitely evident in his early works, and he was already a well-established painter by the age of 21. .
Around the early part of the 17th century, Rubens began traveling by going to Italy. From this point forward Rubens did a great deal of traveling. Rubens' travels gave him an excellent grasp of art history, which attributed to his work. Through his travels to Italy he became greatly influenced by many artists, including Titian. He also studied the works of Michelangelo, Tinteretto, and ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. This exposure to other countries and different cultures had a profound impact on Ruben's work. .
Rubens is often considered one of the most celebrated artists during his time.