The Straw Hat by Pierre Paul Rubens

Famous among all the works of the Flemish master, this portrait of incomparable grace embodies the pinnacle of Baroque portraiture. The painter Pierre Paul Rubens offers in “Le Chapeau de paille” a lively celebration of allure and light. The painting asserts itself through the freshness of its sitter, the boldness of its colors, and the spontaneity of its brushwork.:::::A young woman stands half-length beneath a stormy sky broken by bright clouds and patches of blue sky. She wears a large dark hat with broad brims adorned with tall black and white ostrich plumes. Her luminous face with large dark eyes hints at a gentle smile directed toward the viewer. She wears a generous low neckline accentuated by a black bodice and vermilion red sleeves adorned with bows. Her arms are elegantly crossed below her chest, a ring sparkling on her finger. Daylight directly illuminates her throat and rosy cheeks while creating light shadow plays beneath the hat’s brim.:::::The mastery of oil painting in Pierre Paul Rubens reaches peaks here in the subtle interplay of light reflections. His extraordinary ability to render feathers, velvety skin, and fabrics infuses striking realism into this masterpiece.