The Four Rivers of Paradise
about 1615 | Peter Paul Rubens
According to the conventional interpretation, the four continents are depicted here as female allegoric figures paired with the gods of their respective rivers. Slightly elevated above the others, Europe is sitting on the left, accompanied by the river god of the Danube, and facing Asia on the right with the Ganges. At the back is America with the god of the Rio de la Plata. The Nile has his arm around the black beauty Africa. A new interpretation, however, sees the river figures as an allegory for the four great rivers of the ancient East, or the four rivers of paradise.
According to the conventional interpretation, the four continents are depicted here as female allegoric figures paired with the gods of their respective rivers. Slightly elevated above the others, Europe is sitting on the left, accompanied by the river god of the Danube, and facing Asia on the right with the Ganges. At the back is America with the god of the Rio de la Plata. The Nile has his arm around the black beauty Africa. A new interpretation, however, sees the river figures as an allegory for the four great rivers of the ancient East, or the four rivers of paradise.
Artist:
Peter Paul Rubens (1577 Siegen - 1640 Antwerpen) DNB
Time:
about 1615
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Flemish
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
allseitig beschnitten: Overall: 208 x 283 cm
Framed: 240 x 318 x 11 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 526
Provenance
1685 Imperial Coll. Prague; 1733 Imperial Coll. Vienna
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