From Italy to Antwerp

On the surface, Early Rubens is a breathtaking testament to classic European oil painting, but a deeper look at the life and times of Antwerp’s renowned Baroque pioneer reveals a truly intriguing story complete with all the plot twists and drama one could ask for. Marking the exhibition’s opening last month, we were excited to welcome back Dr. Sasha Suda, the AGO’s former Curator, European Art and R. Fraser Elliot Chair of Prints and Drawings, who is now the Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. As co-curator of Early Rubens, she offered an informative and fascinating Curator’s Talk.

The period of Rubens’s life covered by the exhibition (1610–1620) was central to Dr. Suda’s talk, giving great context to the 50+ works on display. This era was pivotal for Rubens, marking his return to Antwerp after several years studying and painting in Italy – inspired by the likes of Caravaggio and Michelangelo. Decades of religious conflict in the region had a profound influence on Rubens’s creative voice, inspiring the biblical subject matter that became a mainstay in his art. He is also famous for his stirring depictions of mythological scenes. Antwerp was the site of his legendary home and studio, and the city where his illustrious career unfolded.

Presented much like a guided tour, Dr. Suda’s talk offered a gallery-by-gallery conceptual description of the exhibition. Early Rubens not only encapsulates the unique narrative of Peter Paul Rubens; it also groups his works into themes, including: Work from the Italian years; Launching a Career in Antwerp; Building a Brand with Print Making; Storytelling; and Re-Inventing the Baroque. The paintings build in scale and impact as the viewer passes through the exhibition, ending with an emphatic crescendo of works, including Daniel in the Lion’s Den and The Massacre of the Innocents.

Watch Dr. Sasha Suda’s captivating talk (above), and visit Early Rubens, on view until January 5, 2020, on Level 2 in the Sam & Ayala Zacks Pavilion.

Admission to the AGO Collection and all special exhibitions is always free for AGO Members, AGO Annual Pass holders and visitors 25 and under.