Peter Paul Rubens Timeline

Birth: June 28, 1577 in Siegen, Westphalia (Germany)

1587 - the family returned to Antwerp after Rubens’ father’s death

1591 - apprenticed to several minor painters

1598 – master painter of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke

1600 – arrived in Venice and fell under the spell of the radiant color and majestic forms of Titian, whose work had a formative influence on Rubens's mature style

1601 – arrived in Rome

1600-08 - served as court painter to the duke of Mantua

1603 - journey to Spain for diplomatic mission

1608 - Rubens returned to Antwerp following the death of his mother and quickly became the greatest artistic figure in the country

1609 – married Isabella, daughter of Jan Brant

1622 - 1625 executed numerous commissions for the French court

1626 - after the death of his wife, he entered the diplomatic service

1628 - traveled to Spain on a mission for England, and during his nine months in Madrid he became acquainted with Velázquez and painted the royal family

1629 – appointed Secretary of King Phillip IV of Spain’s Privy Council

1630 – Knighted by King Charles I of England for peacekeeping work

1630 - Returned to Antwerp at age 53 and married the 16-year-old Helen Fourment.

1630-1640 - worked with incredible energy, producing many of his finest paintings

May 30, 1640 - died of gout at the age of 63, at the height of his powers and popularity