Peter Paul Rubens.

Name: Rubens Drawings
Author: Peter Paul Rubens

Born 28 Jun 1577 Siegen, Germany

Died 30 May 1640 Antwerp, Belgium

Citizenship Belgium

9 min read

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Words

Mar 4, 2026

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Books

TL;DR

Peter Paul Rubens’s Massacre of the Innocents 1611 set a record at Sotheby’s in 2002, selling for $76.2 million. As the leading Flemish Baroque artist, he produced altarpieces, portraits, and history paintings. He served as a diplomat for Marie de Medici in 1621 and taught Anthony van Dyck. Rubens died in 1640 from gout complications.

Identity & family.

KIN · 8

Names, aliases, and relatives of Peter Paul Rubens — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases rubens

PARENTS: Maria Pypelinckx Jan Rubens
CHILDREN: Albert Rubens Peter Paul Rubens III Claire Rubens Clara Serena Rubens
SIBLINGS: Christine von Dietz Philip Rubens

At a glance.

STATS

Peter Paul Rubens by the numbers — life, work, and family.

62 Years lived

10 Books

4 Children

Who was Peter Paul Rubens?

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Paul Rubens — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

At fourteen, Peter Paul Rubens began his artistic apprenticeship with Tobias Verhaeght in 1591. He was born on June 28, 1577 in Siegen, Germany, to Maria Pypelinckx and Jan Rubens. His family moved to Antwerp. He studied at the University of Cambridge and the Old University of Leuven, grounding his humanist education. His father’s legal career and the Counter-Reformation environment shaped his intellectual and artistic formation.

Career

In 1621, Queen Mother of France Marie de Medici commissioned Rubens to paint two allegorical cycles for the Luxembourg Palace; the Marie de Medici cycle was installed in 1625, now in the Louvre. His painting Massacre of the Innocents 1611 resold in 2002 for £49.5 million at Sotheby’s. He frequently collaborated with Jan Brueghel the Younger and subcontracted animals to Frans Snyders. Rubens also designed tapestry cartoons and frontispieces, and his workshop produced paintings in three categories: those by his own hand, partially painted, and copies supervised from his drawings.

Personal life

Rubens had four children: Albert Rubens, Peter Paul Rubens III, Claire Rubens, and Clara Serena Rubens. His siblings included Christine von Dietz and Philip Rubens. Maria Pypelinckx and Jan Rubens were his parents; his father died when Rubens was young. His later years were spent in Antwerp, where he died on May 30, 1640.

Legacy

Rubens shaped the Flemish Baroque tradition more than any other artist. His student Anthony van Dyck became a leading court painter. His drawing of Leonardo da Vinci’s Battle of Anghiari now hangs in the Louvre. His epitaph compares him to Apelles, the most famous painter of Greek Antiquity. The Flemish Baroque style he pioneered influenced generations of artists, and his works continue to command record prices at auction. His Massacre of the Innocents sold for $76.2 million in 2002.

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 10

Peter Paul Rubens's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Rubens Drawings

by Peter Paul Rubens
Amazon

Peter Paul Rubens, a Touch of Brilliance

by Peter Paul Rubens
Amazon

Théorie De La Figure Humaine

by Peter Paul Rubens
Amazon

Rubens Passioni

by Peter Paul Rubens et al.
Amazon

Spectacular Rubens

by Peter Paul Rubens et al.
Amazon

Rubens, Jordaens, Van Dyck

by Peter Paul Rubens
Amazon

Vita Beati P. Ignatii Loiolae

by Peter Paul Rubens

Could not load more books.

Did you know?

FACTS · 15

Little-known facts about Peter Paul Rubens — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Rubens painted many images of plump female figures. His Massacre of the Innocents 1611 sold for $76.2 million in 2002 at Sotheby’s to Lord Thomson’s son.
One of his most accomplished students was Anthony van Dyck.
Rubens was a Flemish artist and diplomat from the Duchy of Brabant in the Southern Netherlands modern-day Belgium.
Art historians regard him as the most influential Flemish Baroque artist.
At a Sotheby’s auction on 10 July 2002, Rubens’s painting Massacre of the Innocents, rediscovered shortly before, sold for £49.5 million US$76.2 million to Lord Thomson.
Paintings from Rubens’s workshop fall into three categories: those painted by himself, those he painted in part mainly hands and faces, and copies supervised from his drawings or oil sketches.
At a Christie’s auction in 2012, Portrait of a Commander sold for £9.1 million US$13.5 million despite a dispute over authenticity that led Sotheby’s to refuse auctioning it as a Rubens.
Rubens admired Leonardo da Vinci’s work. Using an engraving made 50 years after Leonardo started his Battle of Anghiari project, Rubens created a masterly drawing of the battle now in the Louvre. As archaeologist Salvatore Settis notes, the idea that an ancient copy can be as important as the original is familiar to scholars.
One of his most frequent collaborators was Jan Brueghel the Younger.
In 1621, the Queen Mother of France Marie de Medici commissioned Rubens to paint two large allegorical cycles celebrating her life and that of her late husband Henry IV for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. The Marie de Medici cycle now in the Louvre was installed in 1625, and though he began the second series, it was never completed.
By fourteen, he began his artistic apprenticeship with Tobias Verhaeght.
He often subcontracted elements like animals, landscapes, or still-lifes in large compositions to specialists such as animal painters Frans Snyders and Paul de Vos, or to Jacob Jordaens.
At the request of canon van Parijs, Rubens’s epitaph, written in Latin by his friend Gaspar Gevartius, was chiseled on the chapel floor. In Renaissance tradition, the epitaph compares Rubens to Apelles, the most famous painter of Greek Antiquity.
He was one of the last major artists to consistently use wooden panels as a support medium, even for very large works, but he also used canvas, especially when the work needed to be shipped long distances.
For altarpieces he sometimes painted on slate to reduce reflection problems.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 29

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Peter Paul Rubens.

When was Peter Paul Rubens born?

Peter Paul Rubens was born on June 28, 1577. The birth took place in Siegen, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire and is now in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Where was Peter Paul Rubens born?

He was born in Siegen, Nassau-Dillenburg, Holy Roman Empire, which is located in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. His family lived there temporarily due to his father’s legal troubles.
When did Peter Paul Rubens die?

Rubens died on May 30, 1640. He was 62 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Peter Paul Rubens when he died?

He was 62 years old when he passed away. Rubens was born in 1577 and died in 1640.
Where did Peter Paul Rubens die?

He died in Antwerp, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands and is now in modern-day Belgium. Antwerp was his home base for much of his career.
How did Peter Paul Rubens die?

Rubens died from complications due to gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that can cause severe pain and organ damage, and it had plagued him in his later years.
What nationality was Peter Paul Rubens?

He is considered Belgian, though he was born in the Holy Roman Empire. He lived and worked in the Southern Netherlands, which is now Belgium, and is celebrated as a Flemish artist.
What did Peter Paul Rubens do for a living?

Rubens was primarily a painter but also worked as a diplomat and in the art department. He was a prolific creator of altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings.
Who were Peter Paul Rubens's parents?

His parents were Maria Pypelinckx and Jan Rubens. His father was a lawyer, and the family had to move to Siegen after Jan’s involvement in a scandal.
Did Peter Paul Rubens have children?

Yes, he had four children: Albert Rubens, Peter Paul Rubens III, Claire Rubens, and Clara Serena Rubens. They are mentioned in historical records as his offspring.
Did Peter Paul Rubens have any siblings?

He had two siblings: a sister Christine von Dietz and a brother Philip Rubens. Philip Rubens was a scholar and helped Peter Paul with intellectual projects.
Where did Peter Paul Rubens go to school?

Rubens studied at the University of Cambridge and the Old University of Leuven. His education there provided him with a strong humanist background.
What is Peter Paul Rubens's height?

He was 5 feet 2 inches tall, which is about 1.57 meters. This is considered short by modern standards, but his stature did not hinder his success.
Why is Peter Paul Rubens sometimes just called Rubens?

He is often called just Rubens because that is his surname. In art history, he is often referred to by his last name, just as many other famous artists like Rembrandt or Caravaggio.
What was Peter Paul Rubens best known for?

He is best known for his Flemish Baroque style, characterized by movement, color, and sensuality. His most famous work includes the Massacre of the Innocents and the Marie de Medici cycle.
Who taught Peter Paul Rubens to paint?

He began his artistic apprenticeship with Tobias Verhaeght at the age of fourteen. Later, he studied under other masters, but Verhaeght gave him his first formal training.
Which famous artist was a student of Rubens?

One of his most accomplished students was Anthony van Dyck. Van Dyck became a leading portraitist in England and carried forward Rubens’s Baroque influence.
What was the price of Rubens's Massacre of the Innocents at auction?

It sold for £49.5 million US$76.2 million at Sotheby’s on July 10, 2002. The buyer was Lord Thomson, and it was one of the highest prices ever paid for a painting at the time.
Who commissioned Rubens to paint the Marie de Medici cycle?

In 1621, Marie de Medici, the Queen Mother of France, commissioned Rubens to paint two allegorical cycles for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. The cycle dedicated to her life was installed in 1625 and is now in the Louvre.
What materials did Rubens prefer for his paintings?

He was one of the last major artists to use wooden panels consistently, even for large works. However, he also used canvas, especially for paintings that needed to be transported long distances. For altarpieces, he sometimes used slate to reduce glare.
Did Rubens work with other artists?

Yes, he frequently collaborated with specialists like Jan Brueghel the Younger and subcontracted animals and landscapes to Frans Snyders and Paul de Vos. He also worked with Jacob Jordaens.
What is the significance of Rubens's drawing of the Battle of Anghiari?

Rubens made a masterly drawing based on an engraving of Leonardo da Vinci’s lost mural. The drawing is now in the Louvre and illustrates how a copy of a lost artwork can become as important as the original.
What does Rubens's epitaph say?

Written in Latin by his friend Gaspar Gevartius, the epitaph compares Rubens to Apelles, the most famous painter of ancient Greece. It was chiseled on the floor of his chapel in Antwerp.
What are the three categories of paintings from Rubens's workshop?

They include works painted entirely by Rubens, works he painted in part usually hands and faces, and copies supervised from his drawings or oil sketches. This system allowed him to produce a large volume of work.
How did Rubens's style reflect the Counter-Reformation?

His dramatic, emotional, and sensuous Baroque style was promoted by the Counter-Reformation as a means to inspire faith and devotion. Rubens’s works often depicted religious and mythological themes with vivid movement and color.
Was Rubens also a diplomat?

Yes, he served as a diplomat in addition to being a painter. In 1621, he negotiated with Marie de Medici and traveled to Spain and England on diplomatic missions for the Spanish Netherlands.
What is the date of Rubens's apprenticeship?

By the age of 14, in 1591, he began his apprenticeship with Tobias Verhaeght. This early training laid the foundation for his future mastery.
Did Rubens have any disputes over the authenticity of his works?

Yes, in 2012, a dispute arose over the painting Portrait of a Commander. It sold at Christie’s for £9.1 million despite Sotheby’s refusing to auction it as a Rubens due to authenticity concerns.
What is the legacy of Peter Paul Rubens?

He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. His impact extends through his students, such as Anthony van Dyck, and his record-breaking auction sales, like the $76.2 million Massacre of the Innocents. Rubens’s work remains a cornerstone of Western art history.

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Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on March 4, 2026

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