Die „Himmelfahrt Mariae“ von Peter Paul Rubens

Ein Meisterwerk künstlerischer Technik und barocker Inszenierung

Abstract

The “Ascension of the Virgin Mary” by Peter Paul Rubens – A Masterpiece of Artistic Technology and Baroque Staging
The Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf is showing “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary”, an oak panel painting created by Peter Paul Rubens between 1616 and 1618. The painting (dimensions: 429 x 284 cm) was originally part of a marble altarpiece (height: 12 m) located in a church in Brussels. The painting’s technological examination led to the discovery of a unique construction of its wooden support with vertically aligned boards up to 426 cm long. This discovery, further technological investigation and the comparison to different rotating altarpieces and contemporary techniques confirmed the painting’s rotatability previously only presumed. Moreover, the applied materials, the painting techniques, and the stages of work flow were deftermined. The study delivers insight into the impressive scope of techniques applied by Rubens in order to visualize with maximum effect the theme of the “The Assumption of the Virgin Mary“. Of special interest is the system of lines drawn on the support after priming, which was used as the composition’s basic pattern. Until now, Rubens was unknown for using such a technique.