Romulus and Remus
Peter Paul Rubens·1615
Historical Context
Rubens painted Romulus and Remus around 1615-16, depicting the legendary founders of Rome being suckled by the she-wolf in a lush landscape. The painting combines Rubens's knowledge of classical mythology with his naturalistic observation of animals and landscape. The subject had political resonance as a foundational myth of Western civilization. Now in the Capitoline Museums in Rome, the painting appropriately resides in the city whose mythological origins it depicts.
Technical Analysis
The composition balances the central group of the she-wolf nursing the twins with the surrounding landscape and figures. Rubens' warm palette and the tender rendering of the infants contrast with the wild quality of the she-wolf.
Look Closer
- ◆The she-wolf suckles the infant twins Romulus and Remus, her canine protectiveness contrasting with the wildness of the forest setting
- ◆The discovery scene includes a shepherd who stumbles upon the miraculous sight, his expression registering wonder
- ◆Rubens renders the wolf's fur with remarkable textural conviction, each hair catching light differently
- ◆The twins reach for the wolf's teats with infant greed, their tiny bodies impossibly vital given their abandonment
Condition & Conservation
This founding myth of Rome has been conserved over the centuries. The canvas has been relined. The animal fur textures and infant flesh tones present different conservation challenges that have been addressed through careful cleaning. Some of the forest background has darkened.
