The artwork “Assumption of the Virgin” was created by Peter Paul Rubens in 1626. This oil on panel painting exemplifies the Baroque art movement with its dramatic expression, intense emotion, and dynamic movement. It measures an imposing 490 cm by 325 cm and falls within the religious painting genre. The piece is currently housed in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, Belgium.
The artwork portrays the Virgin Mary being assumed into heaven, surrounded by a host of angels and cherubim. Rubens masterfully captures the celestial ascent with a swirl of movement, as figures appear to spiral upwards around the central figure of the Virgin. She is depicted serene and majestic, her arms slightly open in a gesture of acceptance, her gaze modestly lowered. She is clothed in a flowing blue robe draped over a golden garment, a traditional depiction that highlights her purity and her royal status as the Queen of Heaven.
Below, the apostles gather in a range of reactions from awe to adoration, with their gestures and facial expressions depicting a powerful sense of wonder and devotion. The use of light and shadow enhances the sense of depth, making the divine scene above seem infinitely distant from the temporal scene below.
Rubens’s use of vibrant, rich color and his skill in rendering the human form, gives the artwork a palpable energy that resonates with the spiritual theme. The dramatic use of contrast, the fluidity of the draperies, and the naturalistic representation of the figures are characteristic of the Baroque period’s style and effectively communicate the spiritual ecstasy of the moment depicted.
