Description
Peter Paul Rubens' painting Summer is a Flemish Baroque masterpiece noted for its impressive size and rich color palette. With an original dimension of 142.8 x 222.8 cm, this work represents summer through the figure of a nude woman, surrounded by exuberant nature.
Rubens' artistic style is characterized by his ability to create figures that are dynamic and full of movement, and in Summer this is reflected in the pose of the sitter, who is in a slightly forward-leaning position, as if about to move. In addition, the composition of the work is very interesting, since Rubens uses the technique of contrast to highlight the figure of the naked woman against the nature that surrounds her.
As for colour, the painting Summer is a sample of the masterful use that Rubens made of pigments. The color palette is rich and varied, with warm and vibrant tones that evoke the warmth of summer. The model's skin is painted using a glazing technique that creates a highly realistic effect of transparency, while details of nature are rendered with loose, gestural brushstrokes.
The history of the painting is also very interesting, as it was commissioned by King Philip IV of Spain to decorate his palace in Madrid. The work was part of a series of four paintings representing the seasons of the year, and was painted in 1635, when Rubens was already a renowned artist.
As for little-known aspects, it is known that Rubens used his second wife, Hélène Fourment, as a model for the figure of the nude woman in Summer. In addition, it is believed that the nature that surrounds the model is inspired by the gardens of the castle of Steen, where Rubens lived at the time.
In short, Peter Paul Rubens' painting Summer is a Flemish Baroque masterpiece noted for its impressive size, rich color palette, and ability to create figures that are dynamic and full of movement. The history of the painting and the little-known aspects surrounding its creation make it even more interesting and valuable for art lovers.