In 1985 the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York held an exhibition titled Lichtenstein: The Princely Collections. Refering to the exhibit, and the accompanying book by John Philip O’Neil, the Metropolitan editor’s state, “For successive generations the Princes of Liechtenstein have been devoted collectors of art. The result of this tradition is a collection of masterpieces that in its depth and breadth mirrors more than four hundred years of European history and ranks among the world's greatest private collections.” The show featured many works of art. One of the galleries showcased the grand paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, the Decius Mus Cycle. I remember walking in the room and being captivated by the large paintings—the compositional activity.
The MET editor’s state, “Of the many memorable masterpieces that make up the Princely Collections perhaps the most notable is the great cycle of eight canvases by Peter Paul Rubens—the history of Decius Mus, the Roman consul—the only complete ensemble of this type now in private hands. Other works by Rubens in the collection include the beguiling portrait of the artist's daughter Clara Serena and the Assumption of the Virgin, a monumental work of Rubens's maturity.”
It was a marvelous room. Amidst all of the massive works was something so different in feeling, the small portrait of his daughter—-portraits have such magic, a gift of painting. Ruben’s touch with the brush was remarkable in all of the works, with the painting of his daughter it took my breath away. The depiction of her forehead as it rounds to meet the hairline, her penetrating gaze—with two different eyes, and the tones throughout.
Teaching painting for many years, I have books to share with students. A Time-Life book, The World of Rubens, with the image, proved to me a picture is worth a thousand words. Galleries have power in themselves, the dimensions of a room and the way exhibits are designed. The bravura of the paintings of that gallery were offset by the quiet conversation one felt when considering father and daughter engaged in the moment of painting.
By Drew Burgess
Drew Burgess is a studio art and art history professor at the College of Alameda of the Peralta Community College District of California.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Sammlungen des Regierenden Fürsten von Liechtenstein, editors. Liechtenstein: The Princely Collections ; [... Held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from October 26, 1985 to May 1, 1986, Exhibition Liechtenstein: The Princely Collections]. Metropolitan Museum of Art [u.a.], 1985.
Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens, Peter Paul Rubens, oil on canvas, about 1616, 37.3 x 26.9 cm, Lichtenstein Garden Palace permanent presentation.
The Time-Life book, The World of Rubens.
Cite this page: Drew Burgess, “Portrait of Ruben’s daughter Clara Serena”, August 16, 2024, https://www.drewburgess.art/museum-visits/2024/8/16/portrait-of-rubens-daughter-clara-serena