Artwork
The conclusion of peace in Angers, 10 August 1620 (sketch)
The conclusion of peace in Angers, 10 August 1620 (sketch) is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Executed in oil in 1622, this work by Peter Paul Rubens records the signing of the peace treaty at Angers on 10 August 1620. Though a preparatory sketch rather than a finished canvas, it conveys the celebratory atmosphere of the diplomatic event through a crowded interior scene. The painting resides in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in a white dress, positioned amid a gathering of figures who appear to be witnessing or participating in the treaty’s conclusion. The varied postures—standing, seated, kneeling—suggest a mixture of official ceremony and personal relief, underscoring the communal joy surrounding the peace settlement.
Technique & Style
Rubens employs his characteristic Baroque dynamism, using vigorous brushwork and a rich palette to animate the crowded space. The interplay of light on the figures and the architectural backdrop creates depth, while the fluid arrangement of bodies conveys movement and emotional intensity typical of his historical paintings.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after the 1620 treaty, the sketch likely served as a study for a larger, now-lost composition. It entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s representation of Rubens’ diplomatic and historical oeuvre.
Context
Rubens, a prominent Flemish diplomat as well as an artist, often chose subjects that reflected contemporary political events alongside classical and biblical narratives. This work aligns with the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on grand, emotionally charged imagery intended to convey the stability and legitimacy of political agreements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch: ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
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