Peter Paul Rubens: Painter, Diplomat, Humanist

Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) is one of the best-documented artists of the early modern period. His life and work are characterized by a remarkable interplay of artistic production, intellectual exchange, and social positioning within the context of the Southern Netherlandish Baroque. His vast oeuvre, comprising around 2,500 works, is documented in the Corpus Rubenianum, the largest art-historical cataloguing project in the world. His correspondence, with hundreds of surviving letters, also offers unique insight into his network, diplomatic activities, and views on art theory and practice.

In this book, Prof. Dr. Nils Büttner approaches Rubens not primarily as an isolated genius, but as a social and cultural actor deeply embedded in the political, religious, and economic dynamics of his time. Particular attention is paid to his interactions with contemporaries, the organization of his workshop, and the reception of his work within a broader European context.