Antwerp in the 17th century: Rubens, Van Dyck, and Jordaens

Antwerp was for many years a major centre of art production and artistic innovation. Lots of artists left the Northern Netherlands to settle in the cosmopolitan city, where they could learn from the great masters and forge their own career. Among them were Brabant natives Theodoor van Thulden (1606-1669) and Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert (1613-1654). Much of their work can be seen at Het Noordbrabants Museum. Also in our collection are the paintings of the three most famous Flemish painters of the 17th century: Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), and Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678). Come have a look!

#1 Rubens

Shrewd businessman, international diplomat, devout Catholic, language genius, intellectual, friend to Europe's most learned scholars, and the ultimate 'Renaissance man': Rubens was more than just a painter. His innovative style – for which he drew inspiration from North European realism, antiquity, and Italian masters of the renaissance and the 17th century – had lasting influence around the world. Rubens ran a large studio with lots of assistants, one of whom was a young Anthony van Dyck. As well as paintings, the studio also produced book illustrations, decorations for festivals, and designs for tapestries. Rubens trained and influenced numerous other painters who worked in Antwerp, including Van Thulden, Jordaens, and Willeboirts Bosschaert. He was also a close friend and regular collaborator of Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Deze olieverfschets van Vrouwe Justitia hoort bij een serie van vier allegorieën die zijn gemaakt ter voorbereiding op een tapijtserie van de vier kardinale deugden. De vier tapijten waren waarschijnlijk een aanvulling op de eerdere tapijtserie Triomf van de Eucharistie die door Rubens is ontworpen.

Het schilderij werd lange tijd aan Rubens zelf toegeschreven, maar is hoogstwaarschijnlijk geschilderd door een Vlaamse schilder die niet bij het atelier werkte, maar Rubens' stijl aardig in de vingers had.

#2 Anthony van Dyck

De beroemdste en meest talentvolle leerling van Rubens en een meester in portretten. Op dit gedurfde huwelijksportret zie je George Villiers en zijn vrouw Katherine Manners, afgebeeld als de mythische geliefden Venus en Adonis. Het is een van de drie bekende schilderijen die direct verband houden met Van Dycks eerste reis naar Engeland, toen hij 21 jaar was. Het schilderij markeert daarmee het begin van zijn succesvolle carrière als hofschilder in Engeland. De invloed van Rubens is duidelijk terug te zien in het huwelijksportret. Sterker nog: tot aan het eind van de 20ste eeuw werd gedacht dat het een zelfportret van Rubens en zijn vrouw was.

This sketch in oil of Lady Justice is part of a series of four allegories, produced in preparation for a series of tapestries of the four cardinal virtues. The four tapestries were probably an addition to the earlier series of tapestries The Triumph of the Eucharist, designed by Rubens.

For a long time, the painting was attributed to Rubens himself, but in all likelihood it was painted by a Flemish painter who did not work at the studio, but was very adept at replicating Rubens' style.

#2 Anthony van Dyck

Rubens' most famous and most talented pupil, and a master of portraits. On this risqué marriage portrait, we see George Villiers and his wife, Katherine, portrayed as the mythical lovers Venus and Adonis. It is one of three famous paintings directly connected with Van Dyck's first trip to England, when he was 21 years old. As such, the painting marks the start of his successful career as a court painter in England. Rubens' influence is clearly apparent in the marriage portrait. In fact: until the end of the 20th century, it was thought that this was a self-portrait of Rubens and his wife.

#3 Jacob Jordaens

Jordaens is the least famous painter of the trio. Unlike Rubens and Van Dyck, Jordaens lived and worked in Antwerp his whole life. There, he painted mostly for the affluent bourgeoisie of the city itself, whereas Rubens and Van Dyck produced paintings for the elite abroad. After the deaths of Rubens and Van Dyck, Jordaens became Antwerp's foremost painter. He painted big history pieces, genre paintings, and portraits, and also designed tapestries. This painting, for example, is a design for a series of tapestries depicting scenes from the story of Odysseus.