Second wife of Peter Paul Rubens (1614–1673) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helena (or Hélène) Fourment (11 April 1614 – 15 July 1673) was the second wife of Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. She sat for a few portraits by Rubens, and also modeled for figures in Rubens' religious and mythological paintings.
Helena Fourment was the youngest child of Daniël Fourment the elder, a wealthy Antwerp silk and tapestry merchant, and Clara Stappaerts. She had four brothers and six sisters. After his death, her father left to his son Daniël II an important collection of tapestries of Oudenaarde, Brussels and Antwerp, 35 paintings of his son-in-law Rubens, a large painting of Jordaens and several works of Italian masters.[1] Most of her sisters married into important families.
Daniel I Fourment, died 1643: marr. Clara Stappaerts.[2]
Peeter Fourment, born 1590: Married to Antonia van Hecke.
Daniel II Fourment, Lord of Wijtvliet, born 1592: married to Clara Brant, sister of Isabella Brant (1591–1626).
Clara Fourment, (1593-1643): married to Peter van Hecke (1591–1645), tapestry dealer.
Joanna Fourment, born 1596: married to Balthasar-Nicolaas de Groot.
Susanna Fourment (1599–1628): married to Arnold Lunden, both painted by Rubens.[3]
Maria Fourment, born 1601: married to Hendrick Moens.
Catharina Fourment, born 1603: married to Peeter Hannecaert, Alderman.
Joannes Fourment, born 1609: married to Marie Volpi.
Jacob Fourment, born 1611.
Elisabeth Fourment (1609–1667): married 23 October 1627 to Nicolas Pycqueri, died 1661: almoner of Antwerp.[4]
Helena Fourment (1614–1673): first married to Peter Paul Rubens and later to the 1st count of Bergeyck.
Helena Fourment married Rubens on 6 December 1630 in the Saint James Church in Antwerp,[5] when she was 16 years old and he was aged 53. Rubens'first wife, Isabella Brant, had died in 1626. Helena's brother Daniël Fourment the younger was married to Clara Brant, the sister of Isabella. Her father Daniël Fourment the elder was an art lover and possessed works by Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, and works by Italian masters; he also commissioned from Rubens a series of tapestries depicting the life of Achilles.[6]
Peter III Paul Rubens, baptized 1 March 1637: ordained priest.
Constantia-Albertina Rubens, baptized 3 February 1641: entered La Cambre Abbey in 1668.
Helena Fourment and the 1st Count of Bergeyck
After the death of Rubens, Helena started a relationship with Jean-Baptiste de Brouchoven, assessor and alderman of Antwerp, who later became 1st Count of Bergeyk.[7] On 9 October 1644 their first son Jean de Brouchoven, 2nd Count of Bergeyck, was born, and Helena and Jean-Baptist married in 1645. Her second husband, who was a military knight of St-Iago, outlived her and died during a diplomatic mission in Toulouse in 1681.[8]
Jean-Baptist de Brouchoven, 1st count of Bergeyck; married to Helena Fourment[9]
Helena Fourment was said to be very beautiful, amongst others by the Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, then Governor of the Netherlands, stating that she was "undoubtedly the most beautiful one may see here",[10] and by the poet Gaspar Gevartius, a friend of Rubens, who praised "Helen of Antwerp, who far surpasses Helen of Troy".[11]
Helena Fourment
Portraits
Helena Fourment by Rubens, c. 1630, Alte Pinakothek
Helena Fourment by Rubens, c. 1630, Cook collection