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Rubens and the Classical Tradition (II)

Rubens (1577-1640) had a very strong classical training. We know that a child was educated at the Latin School Verdonck Diamond in Antwerp, where he became familiar with Greek and Latin classics.

This imprint is evident not only in superficial aspects (the mythological theme of many of his paintings), but also in their attitude towards life. When he settled in Antwerp in 1608, had built a luxurious mansion-workshop, where he led a methodical life: get up at dawn and, after hearing mass, he painted for twelve hours, while a reader to read aloud texts Plutarco , Livy and Seneca. He designed the house, according to an Italian Renaissance style. It is significant that the inscription recording made to decorate the arch of the garden:

"Let the gods care to pursue their gifts and grant us what is best for us because they want to men more than men like themselves, "" Ask for the health of body and spirit. A strong soul who is not afraid of death, inaccessible to anger and vain desires. "

this arc represented in Table "The Garden of Love" , painted years later (in 1630), on which once again, although the picture is not seen the inscription:

I have no documented in what language the inscription was written, whether in Latin or flamenco. It was probably written in the original latino, pues dicha inscripción no es otra cosa que reproducción libre de unos versos latinos de Juvenal, de la Sátira 10 (precisamente la sátira de la que también procede la “sentencia” mens sana in corpore sano ) (Juvenal, Sátiras 10.346-50, 356-60):

permittes ipsis expendere numinibus quid
conveniat nobis rebusque sit utile nostris;
nam pro iucundis aptissima quaeque dabunt di.
carior est illis homo quam sibi. [...]
orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.
fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem,
qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat
naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque work,
nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil. You

delegate to the gods themselves do
for us and what is suitable to our circumstances;
for the gods will grant us, instead of the most joyful, the most appropriate.
Man is dearer to them than for himself.
We ask to have a sane mind in a healthy body. Calls
a strong spirit, oblivious to the fear of death, age
consider a gift of nature,
that can withstand any tests,
unable to fly into a rage, and do not want anything.

Rubens In 1630, widower of his first wife, decided to remarry. The chosen Hélène Fourment was sixteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy merchant. Hélène Rubens served as a model for many paintings, including some of mythological themes, those concerned by Philip IV to decorate the Torre de la Parada: The Three Graces (1625-1930), The Judgement of Paris (1639) and Andromeda released by Perseus (1639-40). All three are in the Museo del Prado .

Table The Judgement of Paris is my favorite painter. Paris was the son of the king of Troy, Priam. But it was abandoned by his father in the bush, because the mother, Hecuba, dreamed when I was pregnant with Paris, which gave birth to a burning torch catch fire and destroy the city of Troy. Therefore, Paris grew from childhood among pastors, and pastor appears in the box marked Rubens. By the way, is to note the resemblance of this Paris of Rubens to the actor who plays in the film Paris Troy (2004) , Orlando Bloom . I am convinced that the director, producer or casting makers of the film reminded Paris of Rubens, to characterize the Paris of the film and give the paper:

The god Mercury gives the golden apple Goddess Discordia, commissioned by Jupiter Paris to decide which of three goddesses is more beautiful: Minerva, Venus and Juno. Venus, which occupies the central and prominent position, is a portrait of Hélène Fourment:

This marriage to the young Hélène will stimulate the mature painter, instilling positive spirit and zest for life. The Latin poet Juvenal had deterred in Satire 6 of marriage. But he said that in the rare case that he could find a good wife should make offerings to the goddess Juno in gratitude (Juvenal, Satires 6.47-48). That is exactly what Rubens did when he painted "The Garden of Love. " In this picture is reflected allegorically marital bliss in the garden of his mansion. The putti or cherubs symbolize love. And the source of the right is precisely to Juno, the goddess of marriage, the pipes that flow of love, fertility and happiness.