Consequences of War

The figure's skin and cape are dominated by the color red to further emphasize his identity as the Roman god of war.In Ancient Rome, the Temple of Janus would be closed to indicate times of peace while an open door denoted war.Venus is depicted in typical Rubensian fashion with characteristic rolls of exposed body (See Arrival of Marie de' Medici or The Judgment of Paris for comparison.Pestilence and Famine: These effects of war are depicted as monsters accompanying Fury Alekto in order to heighten the terror of the scene.As depicted in Consequences of War, the fighting led to the destruction of large areas of Europe as well as outbreaks of both pestilence and famine.Rubens, although closely allied to Isabella and the Spanish Netherlands, often had occasion to travel and visit foreign monarchs in his position as a court painter.The painter sought to bring Spain and England, traditional enemies, to peace in the hopes that the Spanish would then pressure the Dutch into following suit.During this period Rubens carried messages, demands, and concession agreements back and forth between Phillip IV and Charles I to ultimately reach a conclusion.However, Titian's most famous work, Venus of Urbino, undoubtedly inspired Rubens's depiction of her in Consequences of War.Furthermore, the careful use of color, light, and shadow as opposed to line to show space used by Carracci in Flight into Egypt became a key part of Rubens's style.
Peter Paul RubensPalazzo PittiFlorenceoil paintcanvasFerdinando II de' MediciFlemish BaroqueThirty Years' WarbreastplatehelmetThe Judgment of ParisCupidsAlektoVirgilAeneidDante'sInfernoPestilenceFaminemonstersapocalypseHarmonyprocreationcharityarchitectArrowsolive branchcaduceusEuropeProtestantsCatholicspolitical powerOttoman EmpireHoly Roman EmpireHabsburgBourbondepopulationOsnabruckMunsterPeace of WestphaliadiplomatIsabellaSpanish NetherlandsMantuaMarie de' MediciItalian RenaissanceBaroqueMichelangeloTitianCarracciCaravaggioLast JudgmentThe Creation of AdamElevation of the CrossVenus with a MirrorNymph and ShepherdVenus of UrbinoLoves of the GodsThe Triumph of BacchusFlight into EgyptSmarthistoryKhan AcademyThe Descent from the CrossLeda and the SwanThe DepositionSelf-Portrait in a Circle of Friends from MantuaEquestrian Portrait of the Duke of LermaPortrait of a Young WomanHercules and OmphaleHeraclitus and DemocritusVirgin and ChildThe Fall of PhaetonThe Baptism of ChristThe Gonzaga Family in Adoration of the Holy TrinityTransfigurationThe CircumcisionPortrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola-DoriaPortrait of Maria di Antonio SerraPortrait of a Noblewoman with an AttendantPortrait of Giovanni Carlo Doria on HorsebackSaint Gregory with SaintsMadonna della VallicellaSusanna and the EldersThe Head of Saint John the Baptist Presented to SalomeAdoration of the MagiSamson and DelilahHoneysuckle BowerCoronation of the VirginJuno and ArgusRaising of the CrossConversion of Saint PaulMassacre of the InnocentsVenus FrigidaPrometheus BoundThe Four PhilosophersAntwerp ResurrectionVisitationRoman CharityEcce HomoDescent from the CrossSaint Teresa of Ávila's Vision of the Holy SpiritThe Tribute MoneyThe Defeat of SennacheribThe Four ContinentsChrist Giving the Keys to Saint PeterPortrait of a CommanderThe Crowning of the Virtuous HeroThe Incredulity of Saint ThomasThe Death of AdonisVenus and AdonisSt SebastianThe Virgin Mary and Saint Francis Saving the World from Christ's AngerMadonna della CestaIxion, King of the Lapiths, Deceived by Juno, Who He Wished to SeduceDaniel in the Lions' DenBacchanaliaA Statue of CeresThe Hippopotamus and Crocodile HuntThe Tiger HuntTheodosius and Saint AmbroseThe Wild Boar HuntFlorence ResurrectionThe Virgin and Child Surrounded by the Holy InnocentsErichthonius Discovered by the Daughters of CecropsThe Wolf and Fox HuntThe Lion and Leopard HuntRomulus and RemusMiracles of St. Francis XavierSaint Stephen TriptychTwo Women with a CandleThe Meeting Between Abraham and MelchizedekChrist and the Penitent SinnersMars and Rhea SilviaThe Garden of Eden with the Fall of ManThe Great Last JudgementA Bearded ManThe Five SensesTwo SatyrsMedusaThe Rape of the Daughters of LeucippusChrist Triumphant over Sin and DeathThe Prodigal SonThe Union of Earth and WaterTigress with Her CubsMucius Scaevola before Lars PorsennaFeast in the House of Simon the PhariseeSt Mary Magdalene in EcstasyThe Small Last JudgementThe Fall of the DamnedLandscape with Philemon and BaucisPortrait of a Young Man in ArmorSaint George and the DragonPerseus Freeing AndromedaSaints Dominic and Francis Saving the World from Christ's AngerThe Rape of Orithyia by BoreasChrist on the CrossThe Three GracesIsabella BrantThe Lion HuntMarie de' Medici cyclePortrait of Susanna LundenPerseus and AndromedaThe History of ConstantineSelf-PortraitThe Conversion of Saint BavoDiana and Her Nymphs Leaving for the HuntThe Reconciliation of Esau and JacobChrist Appointing Saint Roch as Patron Saint of Plague VictimsPortrait of Infante Isabella Clara EugeniaPortrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of BuckinghamAssumption of the VirginAngelica and the HermitHenry IV at the Battle of IvryThe Triumphal Entry of Henry IV into ParisThe AnnunciationThe Fall of ManThe Rape of EuropaMinerva Protecting Peace from MarsCimon and PeroSaint Francis Receiving the StigmataAchilles Defeating HectorThetis Receiving the Arms of Achilles from VulcanThe Crowning of Saint CatherineThe Ildefonso AltarpieceLast SupperOdysseus on the Island of the PhaeciansThe Finding of ErichthoniusThe Rainbow LandscapeThe Garden of LoveBathsheba at the FountainThe Dance of the VillagersHelena Fourment with Her Son FransThe Triumph of the ChurchThe Feast of VenusDeucalion and PyrrhaThe Feast of HerodThe Village FêteMercury and ArgusHercules's Dog Discovers Purple DyeHelena Fourment with ChildrenA View of Het Steen in the Early MorningSaturnPallas and ArachneHet PelskenThe Birth of the Milky WayHercules in the Garden of the HesperidesDeianira Listens to FameThe Rape of GanymedeDiana and CallistoHelena Fourment with a CarriageBacchusThe Rape of the Sabine WomenThe Peasants Returning From The FieldsJudgment of ParisPietro da CortonaPalazzi di GenovaRubenshuisRubens familyHelena FourmentNicolaas Rubens, Lord of RameyenAlbert RubensJan RubensMaria PypelinckxPhilip RubensTobias VerhaechtAdam van NoortOtto van VeenNicolaas RockoxPoussinists and RubenistsRubensRubenesqueRubens' Europe