Foreigners in London (Peter Paul Rubens, painter, diplomat, statesman)

Established in 1994, THE COURSE offers exciting and innovative lectures in the History of Art, Literature, Music and Opera.

In “Foreigners in London”, Leslie Primo will discuss why the aristocracy preferred foreign painters to native-born English ones? Why did foreigners come in the first place? What was their motivation and what was the impact of foreigners on English art and art practice? This course will trace foreign artists from the Tudors to the Neo-Classical looking at their origins and how they came to work in England.

PETER PAUL RUBENS Painter, diplomat, statesman

What was the impact of this artist who never really settled in London but was invited to it by Charles I and subsequently knighted by him? We will look at Rubens’ travels in Italy, the influence of the Classical world and Italian Renaissance on his style, and in particular that of the Venetian painter Titian. We will conclude by examining Rubens’ major works in London including ‘Peace and War’ and his great ceiling painting at The Banqueting House in London.