The Honeysuckle Bower

"The Honeysuckle Bower" is an enchanting self-portrait by the illustrious Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens, featuring himself and his first wife, Isabella Brant. The couple wed on October 3, 1609, in Antwerp, shortly after Rubens returned from his sojourn in Italy.

In this painting, Rubens and Isabella are seated in a verdant honeysuckle bower, a setting abundant with symbols of love and matrimony. The honeysuckle and the garden encircling them symbolize love, while their joined right hands represent their marital bond. Rubens portrays himself as a distinguished gentleman, with his left hand nonchalantly resting on the hilt of his sword, imparting a touch of aristocratic elegance to the intimate scene.