Our Lady with the Saints by Pierre Paul Rubens

A grand devotional altarpiece dedicated to the protective figures of the Church, this majestic painting orchestrates the sacred union of saints around the heavenly throne. The artist Pierre Paul Rubens conceives in “La Vierge et l’Enfant avec des saints” a glorious vision filled with spiritual fervor and religious splendor. The work asserts itself through the richness of saturated colors, the athletic power of figures, and the dynamism of the pyramidal composition.:::::The Virgin Mary sits atop the scene beneath a dark drape, holding on her lap the Infant Jesus who leans gracefully toward Saint Jerome. On the left, a warrior in full glittering steel armor stands near a holy woman with a bright white neckline. In the right foreground, the elderly scholar Saint Jerome with a copper-toned body kneels upon a reclining lion, holding a large open book. A small winged angel in the center brings a wreath of flowers while other putti flutter in the heavens illuminated by celestial glory. At the bottom of the canvas lies the decapitated remains of a slain monster testifying to the victory of faith. Golden gleams highlight the metallic breastplate’s shine and the paleness of the saint’s skin.:::::The mastery of Pierre Paul Rubens is fully expressed in the juxtaposition of textures, ranging from armorial steel to the softness of infant skin. His virtuosic oil technique offers theatrical intensity as well as striking realism to this heavenly gathering.