Art News

The Israel Museum Features an Exhibition of Peter Paul Rubens

artwork: Peter Paul Rubens, (Flemish, 1577–1640) - "The Death of Adonis (with Venus, Cupid, and the Three Graces)", ca. 1614. -  Oil on canvas. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. -  Gift of Saul and Gayfryd Steinberg, New York, to American Friends of the Israel Museum.


JERUSALEM.- Inaugurating a new series of in-depth exhibitions exploring masterpieces from its encyclopedic collections, the Israel Museum presents an exhibition that sheds new light on The Death of Adonis (ca. 1614) by Flemish Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens . On view from January 10 through May 5, 2012, Rubens, Venus, and Adonis: Anatomy of a Tragedy examines this monumental masterpiece, analyzing its iconographic sources, composition, and place within the development of Rubens’ style. Twenty-five related works—including a preparatory oil sketch by Rubens as well as drawings, paintings, and prints of the same theme by Rubens and other Flemish and Italian masters of his time—are brought together to illuminate aspects of the artist’s special interest in the story of Venus, the goddess of Love and Beauty, and Adonis, her human lover.