Van Dyck: A Story of Rivalry and Fame

Flemish Baroque artist Anthonis van Dyck is reknowned for his portraits, which brought him great fame and fortune. He is seen as the best - and most ambitious - pupil of Peter Paul Rubens. His teacher was both a great role model for him and an almost overpowering father figure from whom he fought to separate himself throughout his life. Van Dyck's ambitious history paintings from his early years in Antwerp bear witness to the artistic confrontation with his mentor.
Curators and restorers from the Alte Pinakothek in Munich have re-examined many paintings from the museum's collection and traced the development of the great artist. We experience the child prodigy's early fame and the process of cutting himself off from Rubens, which ultimately led him to the court of the English king.
Was his proximity to Rubens a curse or a blessing for the celebrated child prodigy? Almost 400 years after his death, answers to this question can be found in his paintings.
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[@10limak]

Van Dyck won in a sense that portraiture is much more popular, psychological and relatable in any time period. Plus - portraits make much stronger impact in reproductions of images. I really adore his slender people portraits and Crucifictions. Rubens on the other hand have had super power personality: his wisdom, his charm when you study his career and relations in every country regardless of politics and religions (that made him diplomat as well). Two fantastic figures.

[@c.caub5315]

Will watch this over again, it’s so rich, A story of rivalry and fame.

[@adf3221]

Many thanks for this wonderful documentary. I "fell" for Van Dyck's portraits already as a child because he showed so much love for people in his paintings and one can very much feel this in his paintings.

[@emirhandemir3872]

I can now understand why the Renaissance is so important. An artist goes to Italy, comes back with that style of painting and he becomes one of the best of his time an we still talk about him.

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks so much for posting.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

A very beautiful and rather moving tribute to van Dyck. Perhaps the most insightful observations were those made by the great Christopher Brown. Something that surprised me was the fact that not one of the illustrious experts who participated in the documentary pointed out a significant detail regarding van Dyck and Rubens, and this was the difference in the character of both. Rubens was a passionate, almost exuberant man, more Italian than Flemish; this is clearly visible in some of his letters and many of his paintings. Van Dyck was rather shy and melancholic; something that is fairly evident when we look at his self-portraits.

[@alexandermorshteyn4395]

Great Art Documentary, thanks for posting !

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you liked it! Make sure to follow us for the latest uploads.

[@katherandefy]

It only goes to show that everyone is different in some way. I see these men very much as equals at the same level though they are not the same. Definitely a couple of amazing envelope pushers because what they did is far from simple or easy.

[@tompommerel2136]

A wonderful comparison between Rubens & van Dyck, but for me van Dyck's portraits, despite them being idealised likenesses, are by way of their perennial relevance the most sublime.

[@Intervain]

I've seen both artists' work hung side by side several times and I agree.. Van Dyke's work just shines and it's so elegant! I do love Rubens don't get me wrong but Van Dyck has always been the one for me.

[@Comeriokid]

We got to see the great extent Rubens power. Unfortunately Van Dyck was held down with portraiture and passed away way too early for us to see his true power. He is in absolutely no one’s shadow. Van Dyck practically invented warmth and finesse and painted them in a way Rubens never could. Given more time and fewer restrictions, the conversation would be very different.. very different.

[@eeeeeeeeeee2]

great documentary! please keep uploading art documentaries!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for your comment, we're so glad you liked the video! We'll forward the feedback to our production team.

[@zarleandro]

@@DWHistoryandCulture yes pleeeeease do so! You feed us DW

[@etiennenobel5028]

Great stuff

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

What is most surprising is the coexistence of both during the learning process. We must assume that a renowned master like Rubens would not much like to have very talented pupils who at some point could become important competitors. Did Van Dyck have an equally talented pupil? The technical quality of painting is important, without a doubt. But at that time, the preparation of pigments was equally, or perhaps more, important, because everything had to be done in the artist's studio. And it seems that the apprentice managed to match the master in this regard.

[@wantsum8714]

Best channel

[@jamesallison4875]

Beautiful doc. I enjoyed it immensely!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you enjoyed it. Make sure to follow us in order to not miss out in the future 😊

[@v.g.r.l.4072]

This is bot simultaneously and very, very sad. Thanks a lot.

[@adf3221]

Wonderfully well researched, many thanks.

[@tondakremble6660]

Absolutely awesome video! From the subject matter to the "Art Professionals, their commentary and everything in between! Thank-you More please😊

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you liked it! Make sure to subscribe to not miss out on new uploads! 😊

[@adf3221]

Many thenks for your wonder@@DWHistoryandCulture

[@paulashford4155]

Great

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

This video is excellent in its way, but I was disappointed that it didn't go into the structure of the paintings: underdrawing, underpainting (grisaille?), glazes and opaque paint.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you liked the video! Thanks for sharing your feedback with us.

[@ChiakiShirakawa]

My admiration for Rubens' paintings began with the last scene of the Japanese anime ``A Dog of Flanders,'' which I watched as a child. The composition of the story is the idea of ​​a British writer. A poor, lonely boy NERO yearning for his life, and at the end of his life feeling happy at the miracle that he saw, even though the poor people couldn't see paintings of Rubens. There seems to be an interesting relationship similar to thinking about how the style of German musician Mr. Schumann and Mr. Brahms. I feel that a similar structure is seen here and there, where the relationship with Madame Clara is delved into and Mr. Schumann's sexual proclivities are unnecessarily explored. When it was not enough to get the majority interested by showing the moral model for the common people, it might be easier to make some scape goats in harsher and more painful situations. So they might want something good to believe for themselves to be. And it might be much easier to offer the majority to stimulate their primary desires. I think the paparazzi who followed Princess Diana have demonstrated that this can lead to a regression of humanity, leading to tragedy.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you liked the video. Thank you for sharing your personal insight with us and the community. 🙂 Make sure to follow to stay up to date on new content!

[@manikandan-ge2uj]

Very nice documentry. I dont think there is no rivalry between both of them .Infact ruben loved Van Dyck's works more than that he refers him to his seniors in Italy and the relationship between both of them is absolutely a very good teacher student relationship.Example if the student is clever than his teacher obviously the teacher will jealous.

[@sublimeister9630]

How can you compare a Master and Student? Rubens, by far, is the greatest figurative artist of all time-the pinnacle of the Baroque. 🙏🏼😊

[@peterziobrowski3410]

You need to take in to consideration that all people have their own taste and belief of various things. A bit to narrow comment for I must say.. We all different.

[@MrDelvoye]

Agree

[@tiwantiwaabibiman2603]

@Sublimeister9630 You mean the greatest European white male artist of his time - to you. Your statement discounts women artists and great artists every from every other continent, country, Era and race... Of course [some] students can surpass their teachers. Someone taught Mozart, Miles Davis, Leataine Price, Cezanne, Aretha Franklin, Mikyle Baryshnikov, Prince, Gabby Douglas, Rembrandt... And no one can name their teachers, let alone did they achieve what their students did.

[@colletteprops8708]

It's a nice opinion.

[@amateurbarnabycreates]

To each their own but Bougereau was the best figurative artist for me, but they are in a different period products of masters like Rubens and Van Dyck.

[@ross6753]

I don't think Rubens and Van Dyck were rivals at all. Rubens loved his fellow painters and tried to help them every way he could: he was a rock to a great number of Flemish not so successfull painters who's work he bought and who's career's he supported. Many painters would have starved if it hadn't been for him, Adriaen Brouwers, for one. There wasn't a molecule of jealousy in him. And he worked himself to death, not because he wanted to get rich or to be considered the greatest painter of all times, but because the whole world loved his work and he couldn't say no... In the end he was completely ruined, worked to the bone. And Anthony? They can't be compared. However their style looks alike, in the big works, if you look closely there's a huge difference, even from the very start. Especially in the historic or religious paintings, you can clearly see that Van Dyck isn't the mysticus, he's the storyteller. Just look at that Samson! The way he looks at Delilah... And that face of Jesus, on the "First fall under the Cross"-painting... and yes, that baby Jesus is totally irresistable, although his mum is fabulous as well. The expressions! Rubens depicts scenes, Van Dyck tells stories. So yes, it's a pity he had to stick to portraits, however good they were. Oh, and that refusal? Contrary to what is thougt to be a reaction of pride, I think it could have been just as well a hommage to Rubens to refuse to finish his work. Sort of to say "There's only one Rubens, and there will ever be only one." A proof of respect.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community!

[@ross6753]

@@DWHistoryandCulture I got acquaintanced with both gentlemen in 5th grade by a teacher who lived right next to the Rubens house. So yeah, I know them well, and the other ones too, Brouwer, Jordaens, Floeren Breughel et al... But I had the feeling you depicted Rubens as a bit of a megalomaniacal oligarch, too much to my liking. He was nothing like that. They were extremely solidary, the painters of the Antwerp 17th century Saint Lucas guild; they were like brothers. One didn't have money for food, an other put him at his table. One painter didn't get the respect he deserved? The others made a fuss. Rubens would never have tried to overclass anybody else; he greatly respected his fellow artists's particular talents. "A painting representing ...... this size x this...; composition and final finish of the characters by me, animals by Snijders, flowers by Breughel, background characters by Jordaens, .... , ....by ...., .... for the amount of xxxx carolusguilder" That's often what invoices from the Rubens Studio looked like. Nobody was treated like an anonymous monk. And Sir Anthony... The way the 19 century writers depicted him, and especially that so-called rivalry between him and Peter Paul, that made my teacher very angry, the same way an other, a music teacher, later, went mad while talking about all the fake melodrama the same kind of people from the same era pulled out of their hats about Mozart.

[@Waferdicing]

🖼👨‍🎨

[@w.urlitzer1869]

rubens was 62 when he died, van dyck 42. even with 20 years less of a mature career he surpasses rubens in expression of feeling.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your perspective with us and our community.

[@adf3221]

I agree.

[@zekysantangelop]

is philomena narrating this? i just cant...im chuckling expecting som dumb comment tho 😂

[@holygooff]

Antwerp is a Brabantian city, not Flemish.

[@MrDelvoye]

Theres no versus here ....Rubens is a true Master van dyck lived in his shadow.

[@adf3221]

I am not sure to agree with you because they were both true masters, but in different ways and Van Dyck was already free enough to show in his paintings much more feelings towards the people he painted and his paintings show us very clearly, how very much he liked people