Peter Paul Rubens: Portrait of a Man as Mars (c.1620)

SIR PETER PAUL RUBENS (1577 – 1640), Portrait of a Man as Mars, oil on Baltic oak panel, 33 ⅝ by 26 ¾ in. 85.4 by 67.9 cm., Executed circa 1620, Image Source: Sotheby’s

“Painted in Antwerp around 1620 when the Flemish artist was at the height of his creative powers, Portrait of a Man as Mars blends the genres of portraiture, allegory, and mythology. Rubens depicts the armor-clad figure wearing an all’antica helmet once owned by the artist himself. Imbued with a magnetic virility, the man conveys the self-assurance of the classical deity Mars. His dynamic pose is inspired by Titian, whose work Rubens encountered during his stay in Italy at the outset of his career, but the composition’s originality and bravura brushwork are hallmarks of the northern master.”

READ FULL ESSAY: Sotheby’s

Thanks for Visiting 🙂

~Sunnyside

8 Comments Add yours

  1. A Master without a doubt!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A Master, indeed! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Rosaliene. 🙂🌺

      Liked by 1 person

  2. A stunning artwork by a wonderful artist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vivienne. 🙂🌺

      Like

  3. Thank you for this. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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