Leseprobe

Artists in times of war 354 Soon after his arrival in the Netherlands, on 22 September 1567, Alba had demanded that the city council of Antwerp justify its policy of the previous years. Jan Rubens, the paint- er’s father, was a member of the city council at the time and lost his office. When his fellow councillor Antoon van Stralen was executed, Jan Rubens left the city and moved to Cologne. There he entered the service of Anna of Saxony.6 The wife of William the Silent entrusted him not only with all legal matters, but also with the supervision of her children, who lived in the Rubens family home.7 The allegation that Jan Rubens had a love affair with his princely employer remains unsubstantiated.What is known, however, is that he was imprisoned in Siegen by the Counts of Orange-Nassau. That was also where Peter Paul Rubens was born in 1577.8 When his father was released from prison the following year, the family returned to Cologne. After Jan Rubens died, his widow returned to Antwerp with their children.There, Peter Paul Rubens attended the Latin school run by Rumoldus Verdonck together with the sons of other wealthy families. After finishing school, Rubens entered the service of Mar- guerite de Ligne, the widow of the Governor of Hainaut, as a page.His education had prepared him for a political career. His older brother Philip had followed in his father’s foot- steps and become a member of the Antwerp city council. Peter Paul took a different path. He trained as an artist in the workshops of Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort and FIG. 3 Peter Paul Rubens, Lansquenets Carousing (‘The Marauders’) , c. 1637–1640, oil on canvas, h. 121.9 cm, w. 163.2 cm, Private collection