Rubens in private

‘Rubens in private’ shows the master as painter of his relatives’s portraits. The paintings are the most beautiful and most intimate paintings Rubens ever made. In 2015, these stunning portraits will be returning to his former home for the first time.

In the spring of 2015, a unique exhibition will be held on Peter Paul Rubens the portrait painter. Even though Rubens is said to have disliked painting portraits with a passion, and painting portraits was not highly regarded in art theory either, Rubens is one of best portraitists of his time.

His finest and most intimate portraits are undoubtedly those of his relatives: both his wives – Isabella who died young and beautiful Helena –, his children, along with his sisters and brothers in law. And of course, the master also indulged in self-portraits.

These works were not commissioned but were a labour of love and served as keepsakes. For the first time, these amazing works are exhibited together, and not least at a place where they belong: Rubens’ former home in Antwerp.

The exhibition is curated by international Rubens experts and includes some 50 paintings and drawings from top-ranking museums, including the Uffizi in Florence, the British Museum in London, the Musée du Louvre in Paris, the Hermitage in St Petersburg and the collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein and the Queen of England.