Peter+Paul+Rubens

--Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish Painter)--

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__Biographical Information__
 * Birth: June 28, 1577
 * Death: May 30, 1640
 * Grew up in Antwerp.
 * Parents: Jan Rubens (father), Maria Pypenlicks (mother)

The world of his childhood: "Rubens's upbringing mirrored the intense religious strife of his age" says one web source. Being born in 1577, Peter Paul Rubens had just missed the hardcore Protestant reformation and Catholic counter-reformation. Therefore, although individual churches, clergy, and citizens were more at peace with their religious opinions compared to several decades ago, there were still many different opinions out there. A young boy such as Rubens would have been exposed to opposing Catholic and Protesant views in many situations. Every adult or church entity that he encountered would have been trying to stream to him the concept that their religion was the correct one in order to gain the upper hand in the not-quite-finished struggle for "the mandate of heaven". This must have been a very confusing world to grow up in.

Before his birth, Ruben's father had to flee from religious persecution. Obviously, his fathers opinions were therefore very strong, both having caused his persecution and a product of his persecution. Rubens was influenced by his father's religious opinions, which were Calvinist, although Rubens was raised a Roman-Catholic.

Contemporaries: William Shakespeare, Galileo Galilei William Shakespeare was one of the most influential European writers of all time. Galileo was one of the most influential Europoean scientists of all time. Peter Paul Rubens was one of the most influential European painters of all time. They all lived at the same time. Huh.