Artwork
Portrait of the landscape painter Jan Wildens
Portrait of the landscape painter Jan Wildens is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses entirely on the sitter, presenting him with a prominent ruff, a distinctive fashion element of the era that frames the subject's visage.
Executed in 1616, this oil painting functions as a portrait of Jan Wildens, identified specifically as a landscape painter. The composition focuses entirely on the sitter, presenting him with a prominent ruff, a distinctive fashion element of the era that frames the subject's visage. As the primary iconographic feature, the ruff serves to denote Wildens' status and contemporary style rather than conveying complex allegorical symbolism.
The work represents a direct likeness of the artist, capturing his individual identity within the genre of portraiture. By depicting a fellow practitioner of the visual arts, the piece highlights the professional standing of Wildens during the early seventeenth century, preserving his image through the medium of oil on canvas.
Technique & Style
The portrait was executed in oil on canvas in 1616 by Peter Paul Rubens. The support is a canvas, and the work measures roughly 56 cm in height by 48.3 cm in width, portraying the landscape painter Jan Wildens with a ruff collar. The painting belongs to the portrait genre and is classified as an oil painting.
It is part of the collection of the Rubenshuis and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The current condition of the work is not detailed in the available documentation.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of the landscape painter Jan Wildens was created in 1616 by Peter Paul Rubens. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 56 centimeters in height and 48.3 centimeters in width. The painting depicts Jan Wildens wearing a ruff, establishing the sitter's identity and status.
Current institutional records indicate the artwork is associated with the Rubenshuis and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, though specific details regarding the original commission, the precise chain of ownership prior to these institutions, or the circumstances of its creation are not detailed in the provided sources. The work remains a significant example of Rubens' portraiture from the early 17th century, capturing the likeness of the noted landscape painter.
The work is jointly held by Rubenshuis, Antwerp, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Its inventory number at Rubenshuis is S.46, while the Metropolitan Museum records it as accession 1975.1.99. The painting was first exhibited in Antwerp in 1933 as part of the Rubens exhibition at the Rubenshuis and has since been included in the museum’s permanent display.
It was also shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1989 exhibition “Rubens and His World: Flemish Drawings and Paintings.”
Overview
Peter Paul Rubens completed this oil painting, Portrait of the landscape painter Jan Wildens, in 1616. The work exemplifies the Flemish Baroque style, a movement in which Rubens was a prominent figure. This depiction of his contemporary, Jan Wildens, is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into the artistic circles of 17th-century Flanders.
Context
As a leading artist and diplomat of the Flemish Baroque, Peter Paul Rubens maintained a prolific practice encompassing a wide array of genres. While celebrated for his grand altarpieces and history paintings, often infused with classical and Christian narratives, he also produced numerous portraits. This work offers a glimpse into his personal network and his capacity to render the likeness of his contemporaries with a direct and engaging presence.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch:; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
- Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of Jerónimo de Cevallos
Portrait of a Married Couple
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man at a Table
Portrait of Jan van Montfort
Portrait of a man
Head of a man in a frill
Portrait of Jacob Cornelisz Banjaert, called van Neck (1564-1638). Admiral & mayor of Amsterdam
Portrait of the painter Jan Brueghel