RUBENS, Peter Paul
(b. 1577, Siegen, d. 1640, Antwerpen)

View of the garden façade

1616-21
Photo
Rubenshuis, Antwerp

Among the rare examples of Italianate domestic architecture in Antwerp are a few large houses built for painters. Obviously the standard was set by Rubens who between 1616 and 1621 had the house he had bought in 1610 with land along the Wapper converted and extended with a large studio. He drew the plans himself for the extension, which fulfilled the wishes of the artist, businessman, family man and art collector that he was.