Isabella Brant | |
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Portrait of Isabella Brant by Rubens, c. 1620–1625 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
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Born | 1591 |
Died | 15 July 1626 (aged 34) |
Cause of death | Bubonic plague |
Nationality | Flemish |
Occupation | Artists' model |
Spouse(s) | Peter Paul Rubens |
Children | Clara Rubens, Nikolaas Rubens, Albert Rubens |
Parent(s) | Jan Brant (father), Clara de Moy (mother) |
Isabella Brant (or Brandt; 1591 – July 15, 1626 ) was a Flemish artists' model who was the first wife of painter Peter Paul Rubens.
She was the daughter of Jan Brant, an important city official in Antwerp, and Clara de Moy. Her aunt Mary was married to Phillipe I Rubens, brother of her future husband. Isabella Brant married the brother of her uncle Peter Paul on 3 October 1609 in St. Michael's Abbey, Antwerp. They had three children: Clara, Nicolaas, Lord of Rameyen and Albert. She was 34 years old when she died of the plague.
Several paintings of Brant and one important drawing of her by Rubens survive, in addition to a portrait of her by Rubens' disciple and assistant, Anthony van Dyck.
In 1977, Brant appeared on a postage stamp of Anguilla.
The Honeysuckle Bower by Rubens, c. 1609: the painter and Isabella Brant the year of their marriage (Alte Pinakothek, Munich)
Portrait drawing of Isabella Brant by Rubens, c. 1621 (British Museum, London)
Portrait of Isabella Brant by Anthony van Dyck, c. 1623-1626 (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.)
Portrait of Isabella Brant by Rubens, c. 1625 (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence)