Helena Fourment (1614-73). The artist's second wife

The painting was produced in Antwerp in 1635, executed in oil paint on panel, and depicts Helena Fourment, the artist's second wife, gazing toward the viewer.

Ownership history begins with Adriaan van der Hoop, after whom the work entered collections associated with the Rubenshuis and the Amsterdam Museum. The painting is now held in the Rijksmuseum.

A separate inception date of 1665 also appears in the records, but the primary creation date is 1635, consistent with Rubens's marriage to Helena Fourment in that year.

The panel measures 75 cm in height by 56 cm in width.

The oil painting depicts Helena Fourment, the second spouse of the Flemish Baroque painter, seated in a white gown against a dark backdrop. Her posture is relaxed, hands resting on a draped fabric, while a pearl necklace and an elaborate brooch accent her chest. The composition emphasizes her illuminated face and hands, creating a clear focal point within the surrounding shadows.

During the 1630s the painter produced several intimate portraits of his wife, marking a shift from grand mythological commissions to more personal subjects. This period coincides with the artist’s later years, when his style softened and his palette grew more restrained, reflecting a mature, introspective phase.

The portrait contributes to the broader understanding of 17th‑century Flemish portraiture, illustrating how personal relationships influenced artistic output. It also serves as a visual record of contemporary fashion and domestic ideals, informing scholars about the intersection of private life and artistic practice in the Baroque era.