Where can I see Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children?

Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children?

Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children?

Museum-quality prints of Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children by Peter Paul Rubens (1629/1630, reworked probably mid 1640s)

About this work

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on canvas, created in 1629, measuring approximately 165.

The work is an oil painting on canvas, created in 1629, measuring approximately 165.8 cm in height and 177.8 cm in width. Its support is a canvas, and the paint is applied in the oil medium typical of Rubens’s portraiture, with a composition that places the sitter centrally and emphasizes naturalistic rendering of flesh and drapery. The portrait depicts Deborah Kip and has passed through several owners, including the Robartes family and the Gideon family, before entering the National Gallery of Art collection. No documented condition problems are noted in the provenance records.

History & Provenance

Executed in 1629, this oil on canvas portrait is attributed to Peter Paul Rubens, with some records also citing Jacob Jordaens as a creator. The work's early ownership history includes possible possession by the artist's widow, Hélène Fourment, in Antwerp by 1646. It subsequently appeared in London collections, potentially belonging to John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor, before passing to his son.

The painting was sold in 1724 attributed to Van Dyck, later entering the collections of Thomas Scawen and Sampson Gideon at Belvedere, Kent. Inheritance kept the work within the Gideon and Eardley families through the mid-19th century, including a buy-in at an 1860 Christie's sale. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., acquired the piece on August 5, 1971, through Thomas Agnew & Sons, Ltd.

The painting is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it was acquired on August 5, 1971, through the London dealer Thomas Agnew & Sons, Ltd. Prior to this acquisition, the work passed through several prominent families, including the Robartes, Gideon, and Eardley lineages, before being inherited by Colonel Francis E. Fremantle and Edward V.E. Fremantle. The National Gallery of Art lists the work as an oil on canvas portrait created in 1629 by Peter Paul Rubens, with contributions attributed to Jacob Jordaens.

While the provenance details extensive sales and inheritance chains from the 17th to the 20th century, the provided sources do not record specific public exhibition histories for the artwork.

Context

The 1629 oil on canvas portrait of Deborah Kip, wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, exemplifies Peter Paul Rubens' late‑period portraiture and his engagement with elite diplomatic circles. Its inclusion in the National Gallery of Art’s collection (Washington, D.C.) has made it a reference point for studies of Rubens’ treatment of family status and patronage, as recorded in scholarly catalogues that cite its provenance from the Robartes and Gideon families. The work’s attribution to Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, its dimensions, and its placement within the portrait genre are documented in the National Gallery’s catalogue entries, underscoring its significance in the artist’s oeuvre and in the historiography of 17th‑century portraiture.

Legacy

The 1629 oil on canvas portrait of Deborah Kip, wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, was created by Peter Paul Rubens (and possibly Jacob Jordaens) and entered the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., in 1971. Its provenance records a complex chain of ownership that includes members of the Robartes family, Thomas Scawen, Sampson Gideon, and later the Eardley Smith lineage, reflecting 17th‑century English collecting practices. The work is documented in major reference sources, including Wikidata, which lists its creation date, dimensions, and current location, underscoring its recognized importance in the study of Rubens and portraiture.

Overview

Sir Peter Paul Rubens created "Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children," an oil on canvas painting, around 1644. This work portrays Deborah Kip with her offspring. A distinctive feature of this portrait is its subsequent reworking by the artist many years after its initial completion, a practice that is relatively uncommon in the history of art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting features Deborah Kip, the spouse of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, accompanied by her children. She is depicted in refined clothing, indicative of her social status. The children are shown engaged in playful activities, introducing a lively and personal dimension to the family scene. This composition offers a glimpse into domestic life, combining formal portraiture with an intimate portrayal of family.