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Time-Life Library of Art
De wereld van Rubens 1577-1640
The World of Rubens 1577-1640
191 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
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About the author
C.V. Wedgwood
49 books79 followersDame (Cicely) Veronica Wedgwood OM DBE was an English historian who published under the name C. V. Wedgwood. Specializing in the history of 17th-century England and Continental Europe, her biographies and narrative histories "provided a clear, entertaining middle ground between popular and scholarly works."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 22, 2017
I started reading all 28 books on "Time Life Library of Art" after I graduated from high school. At first, my goal was to read all 28 to challenge myself. But soon, I really go into art and the history behind each artist. I became intrigued by all the artists in the series, but Peter Paul Rubens was one of my favorites. He was a excellent painter during the Baroque period.
November 24, 2019
More of a skim read than a careful, close read. Surprisingly insightful and accessible art analysis — Rubens is a boss — but some of the simpler biographical material is a bit stale.
June 6, 2020
While I still don't love Ruben's work, this book helped me gain a deeper appreciation of it - and introduce me to other facets of his output that I was unaware of. Excellent book from an excellent series.
December 7, 2019
Was really fun to read, especially because I could look up a lot of the paintings online.
November 6, 2019
A brief but solid introduction into the world of the baroque master.
Life's World of... collection follows a good formula: focus on a major artist, but also give context about their times, their peers and other interesting facts that create a whole context around the person in question. They are part art lesson, part history lesson, part biography and yet done with a light touch to be fast-moving and entertaining. Along the way the reader is treated by lots of stunning photos featuring the art of various people.
The dutch artist Peter Paul Rubens is not as highly regarded today, perhaps because he was known for the ostentatious Baroque style that many art critics loathe. But the guy was a master of his work and almost without rival. Yet that's not the most interesting story here...
Rubens was far more than a great artist. He was also a great diplomat, widely read, well educated, extremely congenial and enormously liked. Monarchs as well as commoners treated him like a personal friend. He was even able to navigate the murky standoff between the northern dutch republic and southern dutch lands ruled by Spain, which were often at war with each other.
There is almost none of the difficulties here that we'd associate with other artistic masters. If anything, Rubens was the antithesis of a Michelangelo or Bernini. He wasn't even born a genius, but calmly plied his trade until he became a master. Though no doubt talented, Rubens is more every man than prodigy, which makes his tale all that more amazing. He also died incredibly wealthy, a self-made artist, and for all accounts had a fantastic life (bar some personal tragedies).
I went into this book knowing nothing about Rubens or, for that matter, the baroque movement. But this read has been eye-opening - well worth it!
Life's World of... collection follows a good formula: focus on a major artist, but also give context about their times, their peers and other interesting facts that create a whole context around the person in question. They are part art lesson, part history lesson, part biography and yet done with a light touch to be fast-moving and entertaining. Along the way the reader is treated by lots of stunning photos featuring the art of various people.
The dutch artist Peter Paul Rubens is not as highly regarded today, perhaps because he was known for the ostentatious Baroque style that many art critics loathe. But the guy was a master of his work and almost without rival. Yet that's not the most interesting story here...
Rubens was far more than a great artist. He was also a great diplomat, widely read, well educated, extremely congenial and enormously liked. Monarchs as well as commoners treated him like a personal friend. He was even able to navigate the murky standoff between the northern dutch republic and southern dutch lands ruled by Spain, which were often at war with each other.
There is almost none of the difficulties here that we'd associate with other artistic masters. If anything, Rubens was the antithesis of a Michelangelo or Bernini. He wasn't even born a genius, but calmly plied his trade until he became a master. Though no doubt talented, Rubens is more every man than prodigy, which makes his tale all that more amazing. He also died incredibly wealthy, a self-made artist, and for all accounts had a fantastic life (bar some personal tragedies).
I went into this book knowing nothing about Rubens or, for that matter, the baroque movement. But this read has been eye-opening - well worth it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews