Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens »

Mark Lamster writes on the arts and culture for many publications, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His first book, Spalding’s World Tour, was an Editor’s Choice selection of The New York Times Book Review. He lives in New York City.

Although his popularity is eclipsed by Rembrandt today, Peter Paul Rubens was revered by his contemporaries as the greatest painter of his era, if not of all history.  His undeniable artistic genius, bolstered by a modest disposition and a reputation as a man of tact and discretion, made him a favorite among monarchs and political leaders across Europe—and gave him the perfect cover for the clandestine activities that shaped the landscape of seventeenth-century politics.
 
In Master of Shadows, Mark Lamster brilliantly recreates the culture, religious conflicts, and political intrigues of Rubens’s time, following the painter from Antwerp to London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome and providing an insightful exploration of Rubens’s art as well as the private passions that influenced it.

Library Journal

This book relates the exceptionally active diplomatic career of acclaimed painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). It's a story unknown to most readers, even admirers of Rubens's work. Serving the kings of Spain but also the archduke and archduchess who governed the Spanish Netherlands, Rubens crisscrossed Europe for over 25 years, negotiating treaties and seeking accommodations among Europe's sovereigns. Though in the top ranks of the Flemish bourgeoisie, Rubens was still only a commoner. That he was tapped to lead these diplomatic efforts testifies to his standing as both an artist and a man of personal qualities. His network of friends and correspondents put him in a unique position, but in the end, his efforts failed, swallowed up in the deluge of destruction of the Thirty Years' War. Lamster explains all this without simplifying the labyrinthine politics of this tumultuous age. An added benefit is his appreciation of, and ease in explaining, the complex iconography and artistic values exposed to view in Rubens's great artworks. VERDICT An exceptional book that should appeal to history lovers and art lovers alike.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA