The painting is a full-length double portrait of the couple seated in a
bower (wikt), also called an
arbor of
honeysuckle. The couple is dressed in fine clothing of an aristocratic class within this portrait while also maintaining a casual and adoring pose.
Symbolism The honeysuckle plant has had various meanings over the years. Most notably, the meaning that is still associated with the flower, began in the
Middle Ages. The overall qualities that the honeysuckle plant symbolized was the idea of lasting pleasure; it also had meanings of steadfastness and permanence. This became a typical symbol found in paintings in the time of Rubens. Another element that may have influenced this was
Roman de la Rose, as well as the role of the garden in aristocratic society. In these scenes, women depicted as objects of admiration by their suitors and the garden is full of joyfulness and music. In this painting Rubens and Isabella join their right hands in an act of Dextrarum iunctio. Dextrarum iunctio was the ceremony of joining the right hands of a couple together, and it has ancient
Roman origins. This symbol most likely referred to the idea of harmony within the marriage of Rubens and Isabella. The sword is an important piece in Ruben's noble portrayal here, since the carrying of a sword was a symbol only permitted to those of the elite class. Rubens gained permission when he became the court painter for
governors of the Netherlands. The symbols found within the artwork point to self-fashioning by Rubens, because of the aristocratic portrayal and symbolism. This can be seen in the orange silk
stockings, the bejeweled hat on his head, and the
collar around his neckline. Rubens was thirty-two and Isabella Brant was eighteen at the time, they would go on to have three children together and seventeen years of marriage, before Isabella died in 1625. Most likely she died from the
bubonic plague. Other important historical contexts contributed to the meaning of this double portrait, including the popular art theories and books at the time, mainly, the concept of
liefde baart kunst and the use of emblem books in the construction of this painting by Rubens. The idea of
topos liefde baart kunst in art was a major component of art theory in the
Netherlands at this time. This essentially translates to "love begets art," meaning that art develops from love; this idea of love is very important in the realm of the artist. Each version of the book had essentially the same basic information of mottos and quotations in Latin; also included in these books were the same printed images. While not the first compiler of
emblems van Veen, added elements which further extended the popularity of the genre. The central message by van Veen, which was delivered by
Cupid, was the supremacy of love and important of marriage and love. The composition of this piece also pulled from an emblem book, titled
Emblematum liber by
Andrea Alciato; specifically, the motto and printed image of
In fidem uxorium (conjugal fidelity). ==Details==