In this lively and original study, Kristin Lohse Belkin shows that there is far more to Peter Paul Rubens than the notorious Rubenesque nude. She explores his techniques and workshop practices, the role of women in his life and art, and his engagement with contemporary issues of Church and State. The author unravels the allegorical and iconographic content of key works, situating them within their original settings. Drawing on his extensive correspondence, she traces Rubens' involvement in the events of his time and charts his relationship with members of his circle.