a court page, Rubens decided to become a painter. He apprenticed with Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort, and Otto van Veen, three minor Flemish painters influenced by the 16th century Mannerist artists of the Florentine Roman school. By the age of 21, the young Rubens was awarded the rank of master painter of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke.4 Like many of the European artists, Rubens felt the need to travel to Italy, the center of European art for the previous two centuries. In 1600 he arrived in Venice where he was inspired by the paintings of Titian, Paolo Veronese, and Tintoretto. For the next nine years, Rubens was employed by Vincenzo Gonzaga who was the duke of Mantua from 1587 to 1612. In the year 1608, Rubens went back to Antwerp for the funeral of his mother. While in Antwerp, Rubens met Isabella Brant who he married in 1609.4 The success and reputation of Rubens had followed him back to Antwerp where began to work for the Austrian archduke Albert and his wife Isabella. The number of pictures requested from Rubens was so large that he established an enormous workshop in which the master did the initial sketch and final touches, while his apprentices completed all the intermediary steps. Between 1622 and 1630, Rubens value as a diplomat was equal to his importance as a painter. Rubens continued to work until he was physically unable to do so any longer and in 1640 he died. Rubens created many popular paintings and drawing during his lifetime including his paintings, The Judgement of Paris and Adoration of the Magi. The concerns of Rubens late style and his whole career are summarized in The Judgement of Paris. In this painting, voluptuous goddesses are posed against a verdant landscape, with both the goddesses and the landscape symbolizing the richness of creation. The color is luxuriant, light and shadow glow, and the brushwork is incredible. All of these elements further the meaning of the narrative, which is Pa...
