RUBENS, PETER PAUL, one of the greatest of Flemish painters, was b. probably at Fiegen, in June 29, 1577. His parents settled in Cologne in 1578, where they remained till 1587, when Itubens's father died, and his mother removed with her family to Antwerp. He was first placed tinder Verhaagt, a landscape painter; how ever, inclining more to historical painting, he became a pupil of Van Noort, but soon quitted his school for that of Otho Van Veen, or Vcnius, who then enjoyed a high repu tation; and after studying four years with that painter went to Italy in 1600. Recom mended to Vincenzo Gonzago, duke of Mantua, be was sent on a mission by the duke to Philip III. of Spain, and on that occasion painted several portraits of Spanish noble men. Ile also spent a considerable time at Venice and Rome making copies for the duke, and executing independent works, which added largely to his reputation. In 1608, after an absence of eight years, Bubens returned to Antwerp on account of the illness of his mother, but she died before he had accomplished the journey. Ile intended to return to Mantua, hut was induced to remain by the archduke Albert, gov ernor of the Netherlands. In 1621 he visited Paris by invitation of Maria dc'Medici; and in 1625 completed the series of sketches for the pictures destined to adorn the pal ace of the Luxembourg. Rubens was sent by the Infanta Isabella, widow of the arch duke Albert. on a diplomatic mission to Philip IV. of Spain, in 1628; and in the
following year, on a similar mission to Charles I. of England, by whom he was knighted in 1630. Rubens's success as a political diplomatist is worth noting, and seems to indi cate a large, solid, and practical nature, such as painters in general Clo not possess. He died, very rich, in 1640. Ruhens is the acknowledged head of the Flemish school. By the expression of powerful and energetic action, and strongly marked character—by great breadth and brilliant coloring he successfully embodied Ilte tendencies of the age in which he lived to pleasures of sense, strong passion, and stirring action; and while admitting the coarseness, and almost grossness of his subjects, especially where the nude figure is introduced, we are in a manner carried away by the spirit of joyousness and an animal vigor conspicuous in his works, and the truthful manner in which he viewed nature. His portraits rank with the highest efforts in that walk of art. He painted animals admirably; and his landscapes possess great brilliancy and natural effect. Ile was perhaps the greatest master' in the mechanical part of the art. His style hes had great influence on the English school. The tercentenary of Rubens's birth was celebrated at Antwerp in 1877 with great enthusiasm and with elaborate and splen did festivities.
=, 'OLA. See MEASLES.