Rubens, 'Democritus and Heraclitus', 1603.
© Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid, Spain
Rubens's patron, the Duke of Mantua, also sent Rubens on diplomatic missions.
In 1603 he was sent to Spain to take gifts, including a number of paintings, to the King of Spain. It was not a pleasant journey and rained solidly for 25 days.
Arriving in Madrid, Rubens found that his journey was still not over as the court had moved north Valladolid.
To make matters worse, the rain had soaked the pictures so thoroughly that the paint had swollen up and flaked off.
Two paintings were irrevocably damaged, so Rubens replaced them with one of his own - 'Democlitus and Heraclitus'
The Spanish royal collection contained a number of Italian paintings, including some impressive Titians, giving Rubens further opportunities to make studies.
