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'A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning', 1636
Full title: 'An Autumn Landscape with a View of
Het Steen in the Early Morning'
by Peter Paul Rubens
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This large landscape shows a
view of Het Steen (‘stone house’), which
was the home of the artist Rubens. He painted it
for himself. He was in semi-retirement by the time
he bought Het Steen and had earnt enough money from
his successful career as an artist to have the luxury
of being able to paint for pleasure.
The colour of the countryside foliage tells us he
has painted an Autumn scene. Also, the flowering
plants in the foreground are very seasonal - blackberry,
chrysanthemum, achillea and aretium. Judging by
the position of the sun - the view is looking north
towards the town of Malines on the horizon - it
is rising in the East, meaning it must be morning.
Various activities in the painting also suggest
it is morning. In the field in the distance, a group
of women are milking cows. Outside the front of
the house smartly dressed people set off for a stroll,
whilst a servant sits near them feeding a baby.
Riding towards us are a man and woman on a horse-drawn
carriage, laden with barrels and other goods. Perhaps
they are on their way to market. And on the right
a hunter crouches down amongst the foliage, rifle
in hand preparing to shoot a flock of partridges
resting on a sunny hillock. His dog waits eagerly
beside him to collect the game.
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Photo © The National Gallery, London
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