From the early 1620s Rubens was charged with royal orders from France and Spain for large and integrated projects: the Medici series (1622—25), the Constantine series (1622—23), the Henry IV series (1625—28) and the series of the Eucharist (1625-27). The new energy of the High-Baroque must have seemed a very suitable medium with which to express the pursuit of magnificence and self-glorification of absolute monarchs. At the same time a new source of inspiration made its entry into Rubens's art: allegorical personification and typological association with Graeco-Roman mythology enabled the propagandist significance of these compositions to be made even more explicit. The numerous scenes in the Medici series (Paris, Louvre) are the first and perhaps the most striking examples of this propagandist blend of history and myth in Rubens's oeuvre.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 18 minutes): George Frideric Handel: Fireworks Music

Preview	Picture Data	File Info	Comment
	The Landing of Marie de Médicis at Marseilles 1623-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 295 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	1050*1291 True Color 180 Kb
	The Landing of Marie de Médicis at Marseilles (detail) 1623-25 Oil on canvas Musée du Louvre, Paris	1347*980 True Color 151 Kb
	The Meeting of Marie de Médicis and Henri IV at Lyon 1622-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 295 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	950*1253 True Color 179 Kb
	The Capture of Juliers 1622-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 295 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	951*1200 True Color 203 Kb
	The Happiness of the Regency 1623-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 295 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	662*862 True Color 170 Kb
	The Apotheosis of Henry IV and the Proclamation of the Regency of Marie de Médicis on May 14, 1610 1623-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 727 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	800*439 True Color 69 Kb
	The Apotheosis of Henry IV and the Proclamation of the Regency of Marie de Médicis on May 14, 1610 (detail) 1623-25 Oil on canvas Musée du Louvre, Paris	900*1348 True Color 162 Kb
	The Apotheosis of Henry IV and the Proclamation of the Regency of Marie de Médicis on May 14, 1610 (detail) 1623-25 Oil on canvas Musée du Louvre, Paris	1022*1100 True Color 165 Kb
	Marie de Médicis as Bellona 1622-25 Oil on canvas, 276 x 149 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	800*1546 True Color 172 Kb
	The Fates Spinning Marie's Destiny 1622-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 153 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	600*1613 True Color 123 Kb
	The Triumph of Truth 1622-25 Oil on canvas, 394 x 160 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris	600*1625 True Color 126 Kb
	The Triumphal Entry of Henry IV into Paris 1627-30 Oil on canvas, 380 x 692 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence	1900*1042 True Color 267 Kb