O,
PETER POURBUS (1510-1583), and his son and grandson, both named Frans,
PIETER BREUGHEL (1530-1569), and his sons Jan and Pieter the younger, and
PAUL BRIL, an early Flemish landscape painter.

All the early Flemish pictures are very interesting, but in the beginning
of the seventeenth century a new manner of painting was introduced through
the genius of PETER PAUL RUBENS (1577-1640). This master was descended
from two good families: his mother was of the distinguished family
Pypeling, and his father, John Rubens, was one of the two principal
magistrates of Antwerp. This city was the home of Rubens, although he was
born at Siegen, in the county of Nassau, during a time when his father was
in exile on account of a civil war which was then raging. He was born June
29th, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and hence was named for those
apostles.

He was a bright, scholarly boy, and soon showed his love for drawing. When
he began to study art under Adam van Noort he had already a good
education. During the four years he passed with this teacher he learned
thoroughly all the technical part of painting; then, in another four years
under Otto Vaenius, he cultivated his taste and the more poetical elements
of his nature, for Vaenius was a very learned and elegant man. In 1598,
when twenty-one years old, Rubens was admitted to the guild of painters in
Antwerp. Two years later he went to Venice, and, after studying the works
of Titian and Paul Veronese there, he entered the service of the Duke of
Mantua, to whom he had been recommended by the governor of the
Netherlands.

While in Mantua he painted some fine pictures, and the duke sent him to
Rome to copy celebrated works there. Rubens also executed some other
orders in Rome, from which place he was recalled by the duke, who wished
to send an envoy to Spain, and had chosen the young artist for that duty.
He showed great political ability in the way he conducted his embassy,
and through his personal charms made many friends.

[Illustration: FIG. 55.--RUBENS AND HIS SECOND WIFE.]

After his return from Spain he went again to Rome and then to Genoa, and
finally, on account of the illness of his mother, he returned to Antwerp,
having been absent seven years. His mother died before he reached her. He
then decided to remain in Antwerp, and built himself a fine house with a
charming studio. He soon married his first wife, Isabella Brant, and
during the next fifteen years led a very