Peter Paul Rubens changed the course of art in Europe. The term 'Rubensian' suggests the opulence of generously proportioned nudes rather than the intellectual discipline, creative flair and imaginative vitality which combined to make him one of the greatest European painters. His fusion of Flemish realism with the imaginative grandeur of the Italian Renaissance defined the evolution of Baroque painting, while his exceptional technical skill set new standards for later generations of artists.Though an extensive literature on Rubens exists, there has never before been a definitive one-volume study in the English language. Kerry Downes, a student and admirer of Rubens for over thirty years, admirably fills this gap. His study, including a comprehensive biographical essay and extensive selections from Rubens' work, dramatically challenges much conventional wisdom on the master. Rubens' rich formal vocabulary and the wide range of meanings he conveyed in painting are reassessed and the significance of Catholic doctrine to his work is examined in detail. Thirty full-colour and over eighty black and white plates illustrate the staggering breadth of Rubens' work and enhance this major contribution to the appreciation of one of the greatest figures in the history of art.