Rubemns en zijn bibliotheek

Danish physician Otto Sperling testified during a visit to Rubenss workshop how the painter had Tasso read to him whilst he was correcting sketches. We know tha... » 

Danish physician Otto Sperling testified during a visit to Rubenss workshop how the painter had Tasso read to him whilst he was correcting sketches. We know that he owned a sizeable library among other things from the book orders placed with his childhood friend Balthasus I Moretus. Books were never far from the masters life. Just like his art collection Rubenss library mirrored Rubenss personality. He read artists biographies and studied atlases books on language and the new science of archaeology preferably in Latin. In preparing his diplomatic missions he also burrowed into political and historical literature as well as court gossip. Nor were his sons short of schoolbooks. Rubenss library was one of the largest in Antwerp and the selection displayed here is the first of its kind. The superb Museum PlantinMoretus is the place par excellence to discover this unknown aspect of Rubenss versatile spirit.Balthasar I Moretus vraagt zijn jeugdvriend Rubens om zijn boeken van illustraties te voorzien. Maar de drukker doet meer. Moretus aanwijzingen dienen immers als basis voor de titelpaginas die hij Rubens laat ontwerpen. De nieuw bekomen stijl het rijk gellustreerde barokboek wordt al gauw trendzettend over heel Europa. De presentatie geeft inzicht in de betekenis van deze bijzondere samenwerking tussen uitgever en kunstenaar. Rubens als art director. En dit in een prachtig decor met origineel materiaal en een museale multimediatoepassing. «