The Descent from the Cross (Rubens, 1600–1602)
It was his first major commissioned work made for the private chapel of Eleonora de’ Medici Gonzaga (1567–1611), duchess of Mantua.The painting remained somewhat obscure until 2001, when it was discovered by German art historian Justus Müller-Hofstede, a specialist on Rubens' early work.[1][2][3] The large-size altarpiece revolutionizes the usual illustrations of Jesus' Descent from the Cross of the Cinquecento and engrosses the idea of the holy Eucharist: The kneeling lady in the foreground as a symbolic embodiment of the duchess who receives the Body of Christ like a lover for supper (cf.[4] Stylistically, the painting is comparable to another early work created approximately at the same time: The Elevation of the Cross for the chapel of the church Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which offers the same perspective to the mourning group of women.Rubens as the creator of the painting is proven archivally since it was copied by the court painter Francesco Marcoleoni in 1611 (after the duchess' death) for the church Santa Maria Assunta in Susano.
Peter Paul RubensEleonora de’ Medici Gonzaga (1567–1611)Descent from the CrossCinquecentoEucharistBody of ChristSanta Croce in GerusalemmereredosHermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgThe Descent from the CrossSt PetersburgAntwerpCathedral of Our LadyValenciennesSaint-OmerThe Descent from the Cross (Rubens)Der StandardLeda 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 HomoSaint 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 Ivry