Portrait of Isabella Brant 1626

Peter Paul Rubens painted this portrait of his wife, Isabella Brant, likely in Antwerp sometime in the 1620s. Rubens was not only an artist but also a diplomat in the service of the Spanish crown, and his image-making was deeply entwined with the political and religious tensions of his time. The Spanish Netherlands, where Rubens lived, was a Catholic territory struggling to maintain control in a region increasingly drawn to Protestantism and the independence movements. The image of Isabella thus reflects the ideals of the aristocratic class, loyal to the Spanish crown and the Catholic faith. Her expensive dark dress, pearl necklace, and small book all speak to her social status and education. The very act of painting portraits reflects the culture of patronage that fueled the Baroque art market at this time. To understand this image better, scholars turn to sources such as letters and inventories, as well as the writings of contemporary political and religious figures. By reconstructing the context in which art was made and viewed, we can better understand the role that images played in their society.