400th birthday of Peter Paul Rubens - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1977 - 25 Pfennig

Gemäldegalerie Dresden - Peter Paul Rubens On the occasion of the 400th birthday of the famous Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic publishes six multi-colored special postage stamps with pictures of paintings from the Gemäldegalerie Dresden. Each value also carries the text "Gemädegalerie Dresden - Peter Paul Rubens 1577 - 1640". Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) Rubens is one of the most important representatives of Flemish Baroque painting. He was one of the most prolific artists we know. His art, full of joie de vivre, strength and festivity, was an excellent way of expressing a glamorous lifestyle in the age of absolutism. The artist maintained an extensive workshop operation in Antwerp. He was very versatile and has shown equal mastery in fields as diverse as portrait, landscape and animal image, mythological and religious depictions. The Dresden gallery owns a significant collection of his works. 25-pfennig value: Diana's return home from the hunt. At 1615/1617. Oil on canvas, 136 x 182 cm. Gall 962 hunting depictions were among the favorite motifs of Baroque painting. Often it was the inclusion of Diana, the ancient goddess of hunting and mistress of the animals. Here she returns with her entourage, prey-laden, from hunting. Bock-footed satyrs try to win their favor but are rejected by the virgin hunters. Rubens himself only painted the figures, while the animals and fruits were added by his assistants Frans Snyders and Jan Fyt.