The Garden of Love (Rubens)

[2] It is the apotheosis of the outdoor courtly Merry Company genre painting, and anticipates the French Fête champêtre type of the next century.The subject of this piece is common in Baroque paintings, which used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, and grandeur.[3] Cupids interact with the individuals, bringing mythological figures into a realistic garden scene to produce a fantastical painting.[4] All around the group, symbols of matrimonial love can be found including: the cupids, a pair of doves, flower crowns, music making, and Juno’s peacock.The Garden of Love is believed to be celebration of his marriage to Rubens’ wife: Hélène Fourment.
The Garden of Love , Peter Paul Rubens, 1630-1631
Rubens with Hélène Fourment and their son Peter Paul , 1639, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rubens' home in Antwerp
RubensPrado MuseumRoyal Palace of MadridMerry CompanyFête champêtreBaroqueHélène FourmentRubenesqueAntwerpAdriaen BrouwerPeter Paul RubensThe 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 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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 LandscapeBathsheba 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 WayConsequences of WarHercules 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 RubenistsRubens' EuropeMuseo del PradoCasón del Buen RetiroHall of RealmsCloister of Saint JeromeJosé de EsproncedaExecution of Torrijos and his Companions on the Beach at MálagaAllegory of IndustryAsmodeaAtroposBlind Man's BluffBoys playing soldiersCharles IV of Spain and His FamilyLos caprichosChrist CrucifiedThe Clothed MajaThe ColossusThe Countess of ChinchonLos disparatesThe DogThe Drunk MasonThe Duchess of Alba and la BeataFight with CudgelsJosefa BayeuJudith and HolofernesLa LeocadiaMan Mocked by Two WomenLa novilladaPortrait of the Marchioness of Santa CruzMen ReadingThe Milkmaid of BordeauxThe Naked MajaThe ParasolA Pilgrimage to San IsidroPilgrimage to the Fountain of San IsidroSaturn Devouring His SonThe Second of May 1808Self-portrait at 69 yearsSummerThe Third of May 1808Two Old MenTwo Old Ones Eating SoupThe Victorious Hannibal Seeing Italy from the Alps for the First TimeWitches' FlightWitches' Sabbath (The Great He-Goat)The Nobleman with his Hand on his ChestAdoration of the ShepherdsDoña María de Aragón AltarpieceAnnunciationChrist Carrying the CrossThe FableThe Flight into EgyptHoly Face of JesusHoly TrinityJulián Romero and Saint JulianPortrait of a DoctorPortrait of a GentlemanPortrait of a Young NoblemanPortrait of an Elderly ManPortrait of an Unknown GentlemanPortrait of Jerónimo de CevallosPortrait of Rodrigo Vázquez de ArceSaint Andrew and Saint FrancisSaint Anthony of PaduaSaint Bernardino of SienaSaint James the GreatSaint John the EvangelistSaint PaulSaint SebastianSaint Thomas the ApostleThe SaviourVirgin MaryThe Death of CleopatraThe Recovery of Bahía de Todos los SantosAranjuez Immaculate ConceptionThe Christ Child and the Infant John the Baptist with a ShellThe Conversion of Saint PaulThe Good ShepherdThe Holy Family with a Little BirdThe Immaculate Conception of El EscorialThe Immaculate Conception of Los VenerablesThe Martyrdom of Saint AndrewOur Lady of the RosaryThe Patrician's DreamRebecca and EleazarDoña Joanna the MadJacob's DreamDemocritusIsaac and JacobTityosThe Martyrdom of Saint PhilipThe Blind SculptorThe Mulattos of EsmeraldasLas MeninasThe Triumph of BacchusLas HilanderasThe Surrender of BredaMars RestingEquestrian Portrait of Philip IVEquestrian Portrait of Elisabeth of FranceEquestrian Portrait of Prince Balthasar CharlesEquestrian Portrait of Philip IIIEquestrian Portrait of Margarita of AustriaEquestrian Portrait of the Count-Duke of OlivaresApollo in the Forge of VulcanView of the Garden of the Villa MediciPrince Balthasar Charles as a HunterPortrait of the Infante Don CarlosDoña Antonia de Ipeñarrieta y Galdós and Her Son Don LuisThe Jester BarbarrojaThe Jester CalabacillasThe Jester Don Diego de AcedoThe Jester Don John of AustriaPortrait of Francisco LezcanoInfanta Margarita Teresa in a Pink DressPortrait of Maria AnnaPortrait of Juan Martínez MontañésThe Nun Jerónima de la FuentePortrait of Pablo de ValladolidPortrait of Philip IV in ArmourPortrait of Mariana of AustriaPortrait of Sebastián de MorraAgnus DeiThe Death of HerculesThe Defence of Cádiz Against the EnglishHercules and the HydraHercules Separates Mounts Calpe and AbyllaHercules Fighting the Nemean LionSaint Elizabeth of PortugalSaint Luke Painting the CrucifixionSaint Peter Nolasco's Vision of Saint Peter the ApostleStill Life with PotsThe Vision of Saint Peter NolascoThe Fountain of LifeThe Ages and DeathThe Garden of Earthly DelightsCutting the StoneThe Haywain TriptychHead of a HalberdierThe Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last ThingsThe Temptation of St AnthonyTriptych with Scenes from the Life of the VirginThe Triumph of DeathThe Wine of Saint Martin's DayExcursion in the Countryside of Infanta Isabel Clara EugeniaLife in the CountrysideThe Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia in the Mariemont ParkLandscapeMarriage of the VirginWerl TriptychCaritas RomanaRest on the Flight into EgyptAdam and EveSelf-portrait with Sir Endymion PorterThe Betrayal of ChristThe Brazen SerpentDiana and a Nymph Surprised by a SatyrSaint RosaliaThe Crowning with ThornsThe SurgeonThe Sciences and the ArtsApollo as Victor over PanMeleager and AtalantaThe Painter's FamilyPortrait of José Nicolás de AzaraLandscape with Sea and MountainsA FarmFlemish Market and Washing PlaceLandscape with SkatersLandscape with Charon Crossing the StyxJudith at the Banquet of HolofernesThe Judgement of ParisFeast of Herod with the Beheading of St John the BaptistArchduke Leopold Wilhelm in his Painting Gallery in BrusselsAlpine LandscapeDurán MadonnaPortrait of Elisabeth of ValoisPortrait of Infanta Isabella Clara EugeniaPortrait of Giovanni Battista CaselliNativityMadonna and Child with Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint UrsulaThe Story of Nastagio Degli Onesti, part oneDavid and GoliathMural Paintings from the Herrera ChapelVenus, Adonis and CupidNoli me tangereMadonna and Child with the Infant John the BaptistThe Birth of Saint John the BaptistThe Finding of MosesMona LisaPortrait of Marsilio Cassotti and His Bride FaustinaDeath of the VirginHoly Family with AngelsPortrait of Camilla Gonzaga and Her Three SonsPortrait of Pier Maria Rossi di San SecondoSaint BarbaraPortrait of a CardinalChrist Falling on the Way to CalvaryMadonna of the RoseLa PerlaHoly Family under an Oak TreeSacrifice of IsaacChrist Washing the Disciples' FeetJoseph and Potiphar's WifeThe Washing of the FeetThe Immaculate ConceptionThe Bacchanal of the AndriansEquestrian Portrait of Charles VAlfonso d'Avalos Addressing his TroopsDanaë Receiving the Golden RainThe EntombmentLa GloriaVirgin and Child Between Saints Anthony of Padua and RochMater Dolorosa with Clasped HandsPhilip II in ArmourPortrait of Charles V with a DogPortrait of Federico II GonzagaPortrait of Isabella of PortugalSisyphusTityusReligion saved by SpainSalomeSaint Margaret and the DragonVenus and MusicianThe Virgin and Child with Saint George and Saint DorothyThe Worship of VenusChrist Among the DoctorsAgony in the GardenThe Pearl and the WaveThe Family of Philip VLandscape with St Paula of Rome Embarking at OstiaThe FordLandscape with St María de CervellóLandscape with the Burial of St SerapiaLandscape with the Finding of MosesLandscape with the Temptation of St AnthonyLandscape with Tobias and RaphaelParnassusLandscape with Three FiguresSaint CeciliaPortrait of Ferdinand VI as a BoyMarriage Contract and Country DancingTime Defeated by Love, Beauty and HopeBritish paintingsThe Apotheosis of ClaudiusCastor and Pollux