Rubens had the habit of reworking paintings which his assistants painted after his own specifications. A lesser-known fact is that he also took great pleasure in retouching the paintings and drawings of other, usually older masters.
Rubens’s restored Self-Portrait is back in the Rubens House in Antwerp after an absence of more than a year. Rubens returns our gaze, with a blush on his cheeks and sensuous red lips.
We spoke with Paul Robbrecht from Robbrecht and Daem architects about his fascination for Rubens and how he was inspired by the master in the concept for the new reception building.
The imposing portico and garden pavilion at the Rubens House can now be viewed again by the public. After a year and a half, their restoration is complete. Rubens designed both features himself, making them rare evidence of Rubens as an architect.