Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640)
Hélène Fourment with two of her children (Clara Johanna, born in 1632, and Frans, born in 1633)
c.1636
Oil on panel, 115 x 85 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Painted around 1636, given the ages of the children of Rubens and Hélène Fourment (married in 1630), the third, Isabelle Hélène, born in 1635, does not yet appear in the painting except for her barely sketched arms, visible at right as pentimenti which have grown back under the glacis, which indicates that Rubens had planned to enlarge his painting during its creation and that he left it partially unfinished, as evidenced by a preparatory drawing by the artist (Louvre) showing little Isabelle, arms stretched forward, and held with suspenders (by some servant, not shown on the sheet). On the left, Clara Johanna, in the center, Frans who should have held with a cord (unpainted in the end) the little bird, very sketched, visible between the two children. (Louvre)
See also:
• Fourment, Hélène (1614-1673)