The Art of Rubens and His Fascination With “Plump” Women

The reasons behind his voluptuous nudes

Judgement of Paris (between 1632 and 1635) By Peter Paul Rubens. Oil on oak wood. National Gallery, London. Image source Wikimedia Commons

The painting above shows three disrobed women posing in a beauty contest. The winner of the contest is being offered a golden apple as the prize.

Each of the women is arranged in a different way: notice how the artist has turned each figure in a different direction to show us…