Rubens, Helena Fourment (1614–1673), and Their Son Frans (1633–1678) ca. 1635 Peter Paul Rubens Flemish The artist, his wife Helena, and one of their sons appear within an idealized version of the garden at Rubens’s mansion in Antwerp, which survives to this day. The leather strap across Rubens’s chest alludes to his right, as a nobleman, to carry a sword, while the rhyming ribbon tied across his son’s chest playfully positions him as his father’s heir. There was a nearly forty-year age gap between Rubens and his second wife, whom contemporaries widely recognized as his muse and model. The jux

Rubens, Helena Fourment (1614–1673), and Their Son Frans (1633–1678) ca. 1635 Peter Paul Rubens Flemish The artist, his wife Helena, and one of their sons appear within an idealized version of the garden at Rubens’s mansion in Antwerp, which survives to this day. The leather strap across Rubens’s chest alludes to his right, as a nobleman, to carry a sword, while the rhyming ribbon tied across his son’s chest playfully positions him as his father’s heir. There was a nearly forty-year age gap between Rubens and his second wife, whom contemporaries widely recognized as his muse and model. The juxtaposition of her plump and pearlescent young hand with his ruddy and weathered one emphasizes both their physical disparities and their erotic connection. Listen to experts illuminate this artwork's story Listen Play or pause #816. Kids: Rubens, His Wife Helena Fourment (1614-1673), and One of Their Children, Part 1 Play or pause #817. Kids: Rubens, His Wife Helena Fourment (1614-1673), and One of Their Children, Part 2 Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. We are working to make it available as soon as Rubens, Helena Fourment (1614–1673), and Their Son Frans (1633–1678). Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, Siegen 1577–1640 Antwerp). ca. 1635. Oil on wood. Paintings

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