Rubens Tuesday: Hot takes

The long-anticipated exhibition Early Rubens is finally here. All the drama and intensity in the works of Peter Paul Rubens’s early career is now on view on Level 2 in the Sam and Ayala Zacks Pavilion at the AGO. Featuring ambient mood lighting, spectacularly coloured walls and spot-lit masterpieces including canvases stretching well over three metres, visitors are already raving.

As a benefit of AGO Membership, our Members were the first to see Early Rubens during an exclusive Members’ Preview last week. We spoke to a few Members following their experience in the exhibition to get their initial reactions to the monumental masterpieces on view. Check out these hot takes below, and get a list of all the perks of membership online.

Lisa – Member for four years

“The coloured walls in the exhibition helped me engage with the intense, dark subject matter of some of the paintings. I would not have enjoyed the paintings as much if they were on white walls. As a medical student, I take advantage of the student pricing which makes trips to the AGO affordable.”

Karen & Doug – Members (on and off) for 15 years

“The ambience was dramatic and we learned a lot. The exhibition got us thinking. We loved it!”

Danielle and Anton – Members for less than 24 hours (they purchased their membership that morning!)

“Spotlighting each painting added to their unique beauty and kept a ‘holy’ feeling around the works with religious themes. It is a truly magnificent exhibition.”

Rick and Christine – Members for four years

“We were wowed. Seeing the way the exhibition tells the story of Rubens’s life and work was fascinating – you really get a feel for what he accomplished at a young age. Also, we weren’t aware of the religious warfare surrounding his career and his role in the Counter-Reformation. It’s always fun to learn something new!”  

Lorenda – Member for many years

“I was hit by his ability to use both realism and expressionism. As an expressionist myself, it’s powerful to see those two things come together so beautifully...”

Matthew – Member for 25 years

“I’m still trying to imagine the equipment they must have used to transport some of these paintings. They are massive. It is a terrific exhibition; very well done and very worth a visit to the AGO.”

Feedback from AGO Members has been pouring in on social media too. Check out some of their reactions on Instagram, and share your own Early Rubens stories using #RubensAGO.