Rubens and London

Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish Catholic, and international diplomatic envoy, may seem an unlikely choice to paint the ceiling of the most important royal interior in Protestant England. But, in 1635, King Charles I asked him to adorn the Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace with a vast mural cycle glorifying the Stuart dynasty.

This astonishing masterpiece, painted in Antwerp and shipped to London, is the focus of this lecture which discusses the importance and impact of Rubens on English culture and society.

Part of the Mondays at One series on Artists in London.

This is a free public lecture by Simon Thurley, Visiting Gresham Professor of the Built Environment.

There is no need to book in advance for this lecture. It runs on a first come first served basis.