Gender, Politics, And Allegory In The Art Of Rubens

Rosenthal (art history, U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) applies critical and gender theory in a new interpretation of how the Flemish master intertwined themes of intimate and political relationships. The analysis begins by a description of a recently discovered collaborative painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577- 1640) and Jan Brueghel the Elder, which depicts an encounter between Venus and Mars. The author argues that such signature scenes are visual allegories of a humanist promoting peace over war. She also explores themes of self-representation, social status, familial roles, and his ideas of creativity. The volume contains color and b&w images of Rubens' works. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)