The Dutch Masters: Rubens (2000)

Peter Paul Rubens was born in Antwerp in 1577. He spent time in Italy, studying the art of the High Renaissance, and eventually became a leading Flemish painter of the 17th century. Back in Flanders, he blended Renaissance skill with innovative color and brushwork. His religious paintings for the Catholic Church showcase his talent for depicting textures. A worldly and charismatic man, Rubens also worked as a diplomat, which led to many portrait commissions. These portraits are now considered his most significant works.