La Transfiguration

luglio 1600 – 5 maggio 1608 · Luogo di lavoro

Mantua

luglio 1600 – 5 maggio 1608

Post: court painter

luglio 1600 – 5 maggio 1608

Employed by: Vincenzo I Gonzaga

12 January 1602

First Official Commission: An Altarpiece for the Archduke

Archduke Albert of Austria commissioned from Rubens an altarpiece of the Finding of the True Cross for a Roman church; the contract was signed on 12 January 1602, and by 26 January the artist had already presented the central part of the composition.

5 March 1603

Diplomatic Mission to Spain

On behalf of Duke Gonzaga, Rubens traveled to Spain to deliver gifts to King Philip III; the paintings were damaged by rainstorms en route, and the artist restored them himself in Valladolid. This was the first of his journeys combining art and diplomacy.

1606–1608

Commission for the High Altar of the Chiesa Nuova

With the assistance of Cardinal Jacopo Serra, Rubens received his most important commission to date — the high altar of the fashionable new Roman church of Santa Maria in Vallicella (Chiesa Nuova); the first version had to be replaced by a second on three slate panels.