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Rubens - Picturing Antiquity

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Rubens - Picturing Antiquity is the first comprehensive study exploring the crucial influence of classical art on Peter Paul Rubens, the renowned Flemish master. The book examines how Rubens's profound engagement with ancient sculpture, literature, and neo-Stoic philosophy shaped his dynamic Baroque style across paintings, drawings, and tapestry designs. Featuring over 150 colour illustrations, the volume offers lively essays on Rubens's inventive reinterpretations of mythological themes and imperial imagery, revealing the deep integration of antiquity into his creative vision. Published to accompany the 2020–2021 exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum, it highlights Rubens's lifelong passion for classical ideals and humanist friendships.
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Format: Hardback
$8399
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This book is ideal for enthusiasts of Arts & Culture, including scholars, students, and admirers of Baroque painting, classical antiquity, and Rubens's work. It also suits museum visitors and readers interested in art history and classical influences on European art.

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The first study devoted to classical art's vital creative impact on the work of the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The first study devoted to classical art’s vital creative impact on the work of the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens.

For the great Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), the classical past afforded lifelong creative stimulus and the camaraderie of humanist friends. A formidable scholar, Rubens ingeniously transmitted the physical ideals of ancient sculptors, visualised the spectacle of imperial occasions, rendered the intricacies of mythological tales, and delineated the character of gods and heroes in his drawings, paintings, and designs for tapestries. His passion for antiquity profoundly informed every aspect of his art and life.

Including more than 150 colour illustrations, this volume addresses the creative impact of Rubens’s remarkable knowledge of the art and literature of antiquity through the consideration of key themes. The book’s lively interpretive essays explore the formal and thematic relationships between ancient sources and Baroque expressions: the significance of neo-Stoic philosophy, the compositional and iconographic inspiration provided by exquisite carved gems, Rubens’s study of Roman marble sculpture, and his inventive translation of ancient sources into new subjects made vivid by his dynamic painting style.

This volume is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa from October 21, 2020, to January 11, 2021.

Series: Getty Publications -

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  • Rubens - Picturing Antiquity
    The first study devoted to classical art’s vital creative impact on the work of the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens. For the great Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), the classical past afforded lifelong creative stimulus and the camaraderie of humanist friends. A formidable scholar, Rubens ingeniously transmitted the physical ideals of ancient sculptors, visualised the spectacle of imperial occasions, rendered the...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Jeffrey Muller praises the book for vividly demonstrating how Rubens transformed ancient sculptures from inert stone into lifelike art, describing the catalogue as lucid and powerful. Friso Lammertse highlights the volume as both an excellent introduction and a source of new insights into Rubens's profound knowledge of classical art and literature, emphasising how antiquity profoundly shaped his emotional and artistic expression.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781606066706

Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 15 October 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Getty Publications

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 286.0mm

Weight: 1204g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Davide Gasparotto is senior curator of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Jeffrey Spier is Anissa and Paul John Balson II Senior Curator of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Villa. Anne T. Woollett is curator of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

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