Peter Paul Rubens (Petrus Paulus Rubenius) 1644 - 1652

Wenceslaus Hollar created this engraving of Peter Paul Rubens. This portrait situates Rubens, the celebrated Flemish Baroque painter, within the intricate social and political landscape of 17th-century Europe. Note the symbolic framing; Hollar doesn't just depict a man, but crafts an image of power and intellect. Rubens, adorned with the accoutrements of wealth and status, is presented not merely as an artist, but as a figure deeply embedded in the networks of European courts. Hollar captures Rubens's identity as a diplomat and intellectual, one who navigated the corridors of power with the same skill he wielded his brush. The inscription accompanying the portrait elevates Rubens to the status of "Apelles," the renowned painter of antiquity, reinforcing the notion of artistic genius as a form of cultural currency. The artist is not just someone who paints pictures, but someone whose identity and legacy are interwoven with the cultural and political narratives of their time.