Rubens 2nd Wife. James McArdell, after Sir Anthony Van Dyck.

Helena Fourment (1614 - 1673) was the second wife of Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. Helena was the youngest daughter of the wealthy Antwerp silk and carpet merchant Daniël I Fourment and his wife Clara Stappaerts. She married Rubens when she was just 16 years old, Rubens being significantly older at 53. She sat for Rubens on many occasions, for portraits and for other religious and mythological works. James McArdell (1729 1765) was a mezzotinter. He was born in Dublin, and studied under Brooks. He travelled to London with Brooks c. 1746. McArdell is regarded as the outstanding mezzotinter of the so-called Dublin school, concentrating mostly on portraits. He is believed to have been Reynolds favourite engraver. He published his own plates, most of which were purchased after his death by Robert Sayer. Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) was one of the most prominent Flemish Baroque painters. Born in Antwerp, he was a pupil of Hendrik van Balen, but was soon noticed by Rubens with whom he would work closely during his early career. Van Dyck became a master of the St Luke Guild in 1618, went on to paint in Italy from 1621-1626, and then worked predominantly in England from 1632 onwards, where he was knighted by Charles I. Van Dyck was very prolific, he produced many portraits for members of the European aristocracy, as well as religious and mythological paintings and works on paper.