Who painted The Entry in Paris by Henry IV?

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1628.

Where can I see The Entry in Paris by Henry IV?

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is The Entry in Paris by Henry IV?

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV

Peter Paul Rubens , 1628

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a history painting, the composition focuses on the monarch as the central figure, accompanied by other men, to illustrate this specific political event.

The work depicts the historical moment of King Henry IV entering Paris. As a history painting, the composition focuses on the monarch as the central figure, accompanied by other men, to illustrate this specific political event. The imagery serves as a visual record of the king's arrival in the French capital, emphasizing his role and presence during the procession.

By capturing this entry, the painting represents the restoration of royal authority and the significance of Henry IV's relationship with the city of Paris.

Technique & Style

The Entry in Paris by Henry IV is an oil painting executed on panel, a support Rubens frequently employed for smaller cabinet-scale works. The composition measures 24 cm in height by 45 cm in width, giving it a pronounced horizontal format suited to the processional narrative of Henry IV's entry into Paris. Classified as a history painting, the work belongs to the genre of history painting and depicts the king and accompanying figures within that ceremonial context.

The panel support and modest dimensions are consistent with Rubens's oil sketches and small-scale history pieces produced in the late 1620s, of which the 1628 date is canonical. The painting is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, having previously been owned by Barthold Suermondt.

No condition report, specific pigment analysis, or detailed stylistic description is provided in the available sources.

Overview

Created in 1628 by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, this oil on canvas portrays the ceremonial entrance of King Henry IV into Paris. Executed in the vigorous Flemish Baroque idiom, the work combines a crowded urban setting with a dramatic procession, emphasizing the king’s prominence amid a throng of onlookers and horses.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in public collections since its early acquisition, currently residing in Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie. Its presence in a major European museum reflects Rubens’s reputation as a leading history painter of the early seventeenth century and the work’s continued relevance to studies of Baroque narrative art.