Why it matters
Rubens portrayed his second wife Helena Fourment life-size, coming from her bath and wrapped only in a fur cloak. Her pose recalls the Venus pudica of Graeco-Roman sculpture.
Did you know?
- It dates from about 1636–1638.
- Its Dutch title is Het Pelsken, 'the little fur'.
- According to Émile Michel, her face shows 'no sign of embarrassment or shame'.
Based on the Wikipedia article Het Pelsken (CC BY-SA 4.0).
