His contemporaries praised him as the god of painters, and to this day, Rubens can be considered the epitome of Baroque painting. He created portraits, landscapes, and political allegories, but above all, he depicted mythological scenes and pious works inspired by the Catholic Reformation. He mingled with the rich and powerful and corresponded with the intellectuals of his time. Nils Büttner's well-researched introduction traces Rubens' life and presents his work in its diversity.