Portrait of Helena Fourment (1614-1673), the Artist’s Second Wife — After Peter Paul Rubens

After Peter Paul Rubens. Painted c. 1650.

School of Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640). Portrait of Hélène Fourment, c. 1630/1631. This portrait of his second wife Hélène Fourment is quite different from Rubens' state portraits. In Munich there is a painting of her in which Rubens has depicted her standing. This work from the Rijksmuseum, presumably done in Rubens' atelier, is based on the Munich portrait. Rubens married Hélène when she was 16. He wrote to a friend that after the death of his first wife he had no desire to live a celibate life. He chose someone from the bourgeoisie, rather than a noblewoman, so that 'she would not be ashamed when she saw me taking up the brushes.' Bequest of A. van der Hoop, 1854. On loan from the city of Amsterdam, 1885.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

oil paint (paint), panel · Original size: 55.6 × 75 cm · On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest)

Print: 55.6 × 75 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20026225. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.