Peter Paul RUBENS (1577–1640) - follower of

Oil on copper plate. The creator of these two high-quality images on copper plates belonged to the circle of Peter Paul Rubens. One possible candidate is Simon de Vos. In his early work he focused on cabinet paintings of genre and merry social scenes. Later he worked in Rubens’ workshop and painted primarily historical themes. Under the influence of Rubens, he began to use large formats and paint on copper plates in the Flemish Baroque style. The work here is likely from the artist’s later period. The artist has depicted two scenes from the Old Testament - Melchizedek blessing Abraham and Abraham giving Melchizedek a tithe of his fortune. The facial features are prominent, as are the Mannerist gestures. The pigments are applied using the impasto technique, creating a light, bright impression. The story is told through the composition’s wild motion and strength.