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Commentary on Peter Paul Rubens's

«Landscape with a Rainbow»

1802

Source: Tate Gallery

[Folio 77 Verso, D04375]

Rubens

The Rainbow appears to me the most to be considered as a picture not but this as well as the rest of his landscapes is defective in light and the possibility [Finberg:? profusion] of nature. The woman in Blue strikes the Eye and prevents it straying to the confused and ill-judged lines but as to the figure in red [Finberg: Mid] which is lighted [Finberg: ?lit] from the opposite side a proof that he wanted light on that side and rather strove [Finberg: either chose] to commit an error than continue the light by means of the ground or where the sky is placd. Then it is lead by the Yellow within the Trees to the sky and thence to the Bow which is hard and heavy by the use of [continued on folio 78] the vivid Blue in the distance which is another instance of his distorting what he was ignorant of – natural effect. Then the Tournament – what first should be considered as an effusion of some effect he had seen is deprived of the cause for the sky is beautifull and turbulent but the sun is ill-judged and misapplied. It renders the whole wrong – is not a part minor it influences of light but the ground under it on which it could not shine and by which it is one continual glare of colour and absurdities when investigated by scale of Nature but captivating so much so that you pleased superficially but to be deceived in the Abstract.

Peter Paul Rubens: Landscape with a Rainbow (Wikipedia)