Was born on 28 June 1577 in the German city of Siegen. His father was a jurist and had abandoned the Netherlands for political reasons. His mother Maria Rubens returned to Antwerp after the death of her husband and there Peter began his first steps towards painting together with the landscapist Tobias Verhaeght, a relative of the family. In 1593 he attended Adam van Noort`s workshop and in 1594 went to that of Oton van Veen where he stayed for four years.
After this he opened his own studio. In May 1600 he began a trip through Italy. In July of that same year he met Vicente Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, in Venice and later became his chamber painter. In March 1603 he was sent by Gonzaga to Madrid with the purpose of presenting the King of Spain and the Duke of Lerma with a collection of works of art and jewels. After painting the triptych donated by Vicente Gonzaga to the Mantuan church of the Trinity (1604-1605), Rubens travelled to Rome in order to continue his studies.
In 1606 the Oratorianos commissioned him to paint the Main altar of the Roman church of Santa Maria in Vallicela. At this time he also painted an altarpiece offered to the Marquis Nicolas Pallaviccino at the church of San Ambrosio in Genoa, and made another for the Oratorianos that was destined for their church at Fermo, in Las Marcas. In 1608 he returned to Antwerp because his mother was very ill but she died before he arrived. In 1609 the Archdukes Alberto and Isabel, Governors of The Netherlands, summoned him to be the Court artist. In 1611 Rubens stated that he had to reject more than 100 painters who had wanted to become his pupils. He painted the triptych “Raising of the Cross” for the church of Santa Walburga in Antwerp and then later did “Descent from the Cross” for the cathedral in that city. In 1609 he married Isabella Brandt and in January 1611 he bought a plot of land in which he intended to construct his house. In March 1620 he was commissioned to paint 39 paintings for the ceiling of the church of the Jesuits in Antwerp. In 1622 the Regent of France, Maria de Medici, made the projects with Rubens in which he was to undertake 22 canvases destined to decorate a gallery of the palace at Luxemburg. This was finished before the end of February 1625. After Isabella Brandt`s death he dedicated himself to diplomatic tasks. He talked with the English government in order to try to obtain peace between England and Spain. In July 1628 he was summoned by the Spanish sovereign to Madrid so that he could inform the King about the results of the negotiations he was undertaking. By order of Phillip IV, he moved to London in order to conclude the Treaty. Besides the favour of the King of Spain, he also earned the favour of the King of England, who knighted him. He undertook the task of decorating the ceilings of the great Reception Salon at Whitehall palace in London under express petition of King Charles I. In 1630 he married for a second time, the 16-year-old Elena Fourment and in 1634 he made the first drafts for the decoration of the entrance of cardinal-infant Fernando de Amberes. In 1636 he received his last commission from the King of Spain.
During the last years of his life Rubens suffered intermittent attacks of gout in his hands. His last paintings reached Madrid in 1638. In the following years, the gout attacks became more frequent and stronger. He died on 30 May 1640 and was buried in the chapel of the church of Santiago in Antwerp which he himself had had constructed behind the main altar.
