Artwork
Rubens and his Wife
Rubens and his Wife is a print by John Summerfield. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
John Summerfield’s 1850 print reproduces a composition originally devised by Peter Paul Rubens and his collaborator Frans Snyders. The image presents a 17th‑century couple in a pastoral setting, the man bearing a large deer on his back while a basket of game birds rests at his side, and the woman standing nearby in a dark dress and head covering.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of everyday rural life, emphasizing the modest activities of hunting and gathering. The figures’ attire and the presence of game suggest a domestic scene rooted in the traditions of Flemish genre painting, where the quiet interaction between husband and wife reflects a harmonious, self‑sufficient household.
Technique & Style
Summerfield employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to give volume to the bodies and the animal forms. The print’s line work and tonal gradations convey depth within the cloudy sky and distant trees, reinforcing the three‑dimensional illusion on a flat paper surface.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, the print serves as an interpretive copy of Rubens and Snyders’ collaborative design, a common practice in the 19th century to disseminate celebrated compositions. It was produced for the market of collectors interested in reproductions of Baroque masterpieces, though its specific ownership trail prior to modern museum acquisition remains undocumented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Summerfield, clergyman, born in Preston, England, 31 January 1798; died in New York City, 13 June 1825.
