Peter Paul Rubens Landscape Baroque Paintings
Written by Teresita Blanco (The Artsy Sister)
Frankly, I could not find a Category for these three paintings. They are the best example of dynamic baroque. The first painting is called the Lion Hunt. Here we see European knights hunting with a black slave. One of the slaves fell and got bitten by a lion. The horses look completely wild. As for the hunters, they are calmed and focused. For the most part, hunting is a manly game. It was also a favorite rich guy hobby. Here we see strong me hunting a dangerous game. The stormy sky adds to the effect. Rubens knew how to paint Lions because many traders exported these exotic beast to Europe. Rubens was a well connected diplomat. Thus, he got to see the court's zoo whenever he visited.
This next painting follows a similar format. This time, the game are a Hippopotamus and Crocodile. The hunting dogs where a nice detail. The crocodile looks quite realistic. They got the size just about right. The scenery is actually Egypt. It was in this place where you could find both beast. The guys hunting them are Arabs. They are using fancy spears to impale the beast. I like the random dead guy that showed up in both paintings. It shows you that hunting is a dangerous game. The guys in the floor kinda resemble slaves. They lure and weaken the animals to give a chance to their masters. The sword used by the scared old guy is actually Persian. I think that is everything worth mentioning about this awesome painting.
The last painting shows both the Arabs and the Europeans working together. On the right, we see the Europeans. One the left, we see the Persians. Both are divided by the blue horse. It is pretty neat how that guy got mauled by a tiger. The articulations on that beast are just right. The dead thing in this image is a dead Leopard. It alludes to the result of this hunt. Putting all three paintings together, it seems that the hunt can only go well for the humans when both civilizations set aside their differences. When working together for a common goal they can achieve great things. This is show in the right, when the two European hunters goes to aid the Persian guy. On the floor, a strongman is keeping a Lion from eating his pal. In a sense, this guy alludes to Hercules, who slew a lion all by himself. Also, this strong man is looking at the viewer, It seems we two are part of this lion hunt. I like how there is harmony even among all this chaos.
During the Baroque period, people finally outgrew regular people painting. They actually started to pay attention to nature. So, here is one of the few landscapes of Rubens.The first landscape shows a farm. In the center, we see two peasant women barefooted. They brought food to feed the livestock. On the far left, we see the fancy vanishing point, Da Vinci style. On the right, we see a man tending to some cows. Between the trees, I can half see a church in the vicinity. Most farms where more like towns. The owners and the workers had their own church. I like the addition of the birds flying toward a tree. It adds an air of spontaneity, and naturalism to the scenery. I think that is everything worth mentioning.
With landscapes, the titles are really simple. What you read is what you get. We all see the castle. In the old days, landscapes just had to have people. Here we see two ladies about to cross the river. They are lifting up their skirts to keep them from getting wet. Behind them, we see their father accompanied by another lady. Beyond them, we see the farms and farmers. Thus, here is a typical rural landscape. Rubens had visited Rome before on diplomatic missions, thus he was acquainted with the surroundings.
What is interesting about the landscape tradition of this time, is that poor folks where treated as objects. They served as part of the decoration. Heck the guys on the bottom left, seem to blend into the surroundings. Again, we see a farm area. On the left middle, we see the castle of the noblemen. These are the remnants feudalism. Now instead of feudal lords, we have rich landowning guys. Yet, things did not change much for peasants. I think that is everything worth mentioning. 5 stars for this pretty landscape.
You know, I should have put this painting in the hunting blog. However, I thought this had more of a landscape feel about it. Still, you got to love the movement in this painting. All are working together toward a common goal. I like the inclusion of that peasant woman on the bottom left. She is holding back some of the hunting dogs. Most today, do not imagine seeing women in such hunting scenes of the time. However, the seclusion of women only applied to noble women. The poor could not afford having the women outside the labor market. Thus, here you have this chick.
This typical scene was pretty common among commoners. During their idle time in the field, they used to dance around. This type of dance is quite engaging and far humorous. You never see noblemen this lively. You can tell they are peasants because some are barefooted. Behind them, you see the noble mansion. You know, with the rise of urban cities a counter movement of Pastoralism came about. It focused on farmers and rural life. You know, the simple things. This is an ideal peasant communities.
I like the colors at sunset. Rather warm. These strong colors reminds one of Caravaggio. Strong darkness and one source of light. I like how I do not see any humans in this painting. Only a few deers here and there.
Here is the second version of the Rainbow landscape painting. I like the twin rainbow. This time, we see a closer view of the humans. In the center, we see several shepherds. This alludes to the pastoralism vogue of the time.
The golden sunrise adds a lovely tone to the entire scenery. It is a great observance of how light affects the color of the surroundings. The Watering place is one the bottom right. On the top right, I see a noble's farm. On the top left, I see a church hidden among the trees. I think that is everything worth noting.
Here is the next lovely landscape painting. I can see the avenue of trees leading to the city. This must have been painted in France. They liked to tame nature and be symmetrical about things. They where not too big on having a natural looking nature. hehehehe...
For being a devout Catholic, I find hilarious that he did not mention the peasants in this painting. Only the cows are worth noting. Then again, this was a commissioned work. Painters rarely painted for the hell of it in those days.
Well, originally landscapes came coupled with biblical scenes. Here is one from that tradition. Its pretty interesting the sobbing women at the bottom. Before them, we see some random zombies. This painting is really creepy. I think St. George is the knight next to the lady in red. Two angels are shinning lights upon the saint. So yeah, this guy is famous for slaying plague ridden dragon that terrorized a town. The people are gathering around to see the carcass of the dead beast.
In this landscape, we see a watch tower. They were really popular during medieval times. A light would be set up whenever they saw an army approaching the castle. It was fortified enough to handle an onslaught for a month or so. If worse came to worse, they would blow up the bridge.
When you are this filthy rich, you can afford to make paintings for the hell of it. Here we see Rubens and his second wife. Her father was a textile merchant. This provided a lot of additional income for the profitable artist. Thus, he could afford servants, peacocks, doggies, Greek statues ect. This garden is British style close to the foreground. The water fountain garden section is more French looking.
I like this lovely observance of nature. Ruben's waterfall rainbow on the bottom left look really neat. The storm look really cool. On the middle right, I think I see Jesus curing some random people. Kinda random, if you ask me.
In this painting, we get a wider view of the peasant dance. On the left side of the painting, we see the peasants having fun. This party bears semblance of a pagan Bacchanal. It is the Baroque Equivalent.
Here is the last painting. It is from the Odysseys. Here Ulysses has just landed. He is asking Nausicaa to give him some clothing. It is one of those cast away scenes. Both are in the middle bottom of the painting. In the center, we see the castle of the Melenao. He is the ruler of this Island. Well, lets just move right along. I hope that you liked these landscape paintings. They are all pretty neat.
