Rubens with his Wife and Child

James McArdell|Helena Fourment|Frans Rubens|Peter Paul Rubens|Peter Paul Rubens

1740–65 · Mezzotint; first state of two; proof before letters · Drawings and Prints

Rubens enjoyed a high reputation in Great Britain throughout the eighteenth century, and prints after his work were published in large numbers. McArdell's mezzotint of Rubens's own family was the first of two such prints published in London after the charming domestic subject; the other was by Charles Phillips. This print is a proof, without lettering, made available for collectors aside from the main edition and one of the latter is also in the Met's collection (24.63.107). The large full-length group portrait was first owned by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722), it then remained in the family through the late nineteenth century and is now in the Met's collection (1981.238). The artist, his wife Helena, and one of their sons appear within an idealized version of the garden at Rubens's mansion in Antwerp, which survives to this day.

Artist

James McArdell|Helena Fourment|Frans Rubens|Peter Paul Rubens|Peter Paul Rubens

Date

1740–65

Medium

Mezzotint; first state of two; proof before letters

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951