The Damage of Sennaherib 1618

Peter Paul Rubens created this artwork in the 17th century using pen and brown ink with brown wash on paper. It depicts a chaotic biblical scene. Rubens was working in a time and place, the Spanish Netherlands, which was deeply Catholic and frequently at war. His paintings often reflected the dramatic and dynamic sensibilities of the Baroque era, as well as the religious and political tensions of the time. "The Damage of Sennaherib" demonstrates the divine retribution against the Assyrian king Sennaherib, whose army was destroyed while besieging Jerusalem. Rubens's image is less about the glories of war and more about the consequences of hubris. Studying the historical context, including the religious and political climate of Rubens's time, we can better appreciate how the image uses visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations to create meaning.