Man of wealth and taste: Peter Paul Rubens' Portrait of Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel

When Rubens visited Britain in 1629-39, (in his day job as a diplomat) to make peace between Britain and Spain he also probably painted this portrait of Britain’s first great art collector. The second earl of Arundel was the Charles Saatchi of his day. He sent emissaries to Greece to find authentic examples of ancient Greek sculpture at a time when most people were happy with Roman copies, and got his hands on Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. Rubens gives severe character and antique Roman “gravitas” to this man of wealth and taste.
Illustration: © The National Gallery, London