Het Steen (Elewijt)

Het Steen
Elewijt, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
File:Het Steen - Front view.jpg Front of Het Steen, pictured in 2023
Site information
Type	Castle
Owner	Flemish Region
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Site history
Built	Original castle: 1304
Garrison information
Occupants	Peter Paul Rubens

Het Steen (lit. 'The Stone' or 'The Rock'), also known as the Rubens Castle (Rubenskasteel), is a castle in Elewijt, Flemish Brabant in Belgium. It was owned by the artist Peter Paul Rubens between 1635 and his death in 1640 and the castle features in some of his landscape paintings.

Early history

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The castle's origins date to 1304. A small stream called the Baerebeek runs through the castle grounds.

Rubenskasteel

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The painter Peter Paul Rubens purchased Het Steen as a country estate in May 1635 for 93,000 guilders along with the historic noble title Lord (Seigneur) of Steen. Rubens intended to use the castle as a summer residence as he already owned a substantial mansion in Antwerp about two hours away by carriage.^[1]

Rubens moved into the castle with his family in November 1635.^[1] He died in 1640.

The castle features in a number of Rubens's most celebrated landscape paintings including The Rainbow Landscape (Wallace Collection, 1636), A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning (National Gallery, 1636), and Tournament in Front of Steen Castle (Louvre, 1638-40).

File:Peter Paul Rubens - View of Het Steen Castle in the Early Morning.jpg
Detail of the castle from A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning

Detail of the castle from A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning
Tournament in Front of Steen Castle (1638-40) (Louvre)

Tournament in Front of Steen Castle (1638-40) (Louvre)

Subsequent history

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After Rubens's death, the castle passed to a succession of owners. It was used as a prison for a time. At the time of the German invasion of Belgium in August 1914, four civilians were murdered outside the castle by German forces at the same time as the massacre of civilians in nearby villages including Elewijt.^[2] It was declared a listed monument in 2016.

The castle was put up for private sale in 2021 at an undisclosed asking price, speculated to be 4 million euros.^[3] After being listed for sale in 2016, it was purchased by the Flemish Region in 2019.

Nowadays, the castle is privately owned, not open for visits but rented for events.^[4]

Depiction in Jean-Joseph de Cloet's Châteaux et monumens des Pays Bas, faisant suite au Voyage pittoresque (1827)

Depiction in Jean-Joseph de Cloet's Châteaux et monumens des Pays Bas, faisant suite au Voyage pittoresque (1827)

Sources

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^ ^a ^b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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^ Koen Merens, "Exclusief feesten in Rubenskasteel", Het Nieuwsblad, 7 September 2011

v t e Peter Paul Rubens
Paintings and drawings	The Descent from the Cross (Siegen; 1600–1602) Leda and the Swan (1601, 1602) The Deposition (1602) Self-Portrait in a Circle of Friends from Mantua (1602–1605) Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma (1603) Portrait of a Young Woman (1603) Hercules and Omphale (1603) Heraclitus and Democritus (1603) Virgin and Child (c. 1604) The Fall of Phaeton (c. 1604/1605) The Baptism of Christ (1604–1605) The Gonzaga Family in Adoration of the Holy Trinity (1604–1605) Transfiguration (1604–1605) The Circumcision (1605) Portrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola-Doria (1606) Portrait of Maria di Antonio Serra (1606) Portrait of a Noblewoman with an Attendant (1606) Portrait of Giovanni Carlo Doria on Horseback (1606) Saint Gregory with Saints (1606-07) Madonna della Vallicella (1606–1608) Susanna and the Elders (1607) The Head of Saint John the Baptist Presented to Salome (c. 1609) Adoration of the Magi (Madrid; 1609 and 1628–29) Samson and Delilah (1609–1610) Honeysuckle Bower (1609–1610) Coronation of the Virgin (1609–1611) Juno and Argus (1610) Raising of the Cross (1610–1611) Conversion of Saint Paul (London; 1610–1612) Massacre of the Innocents (c. 1611) Venus Frigida (1611) Prometheus Bound (1611–1612) The Four Philosophers (1611–1612) Antwerp Resurrection (1611–1612) Visitation (c. 1611–1615) Roman Charity (1612) Ecce Homo (1612) Descent from the Cross (Antwerp; 1612–1614) Saint Teresa of Ávila's Vision of the Holy Spirit (Rotterdam; 1612–1614) Saint Teresa of Ávila's Vision of the Holy Spirit (Cambridge; c. 1614) The Tribute Money (1612–1614) The Defeat of Sennacherib (1612–1614) The Four Continents (1610s) Christ Giving the Keys to Saint Peter (1612–1614) Portrait of a Commander (1613) The Crowning of the Virtuous Hero (1613–1614) The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (1613–1615) The Death of Adonis (1614) Venus and Adonis (1614) Saint Sebastian (c. 1614) The Virgin Mary and Saint Francis Saving the World from Christ's Anger (c. 1614) Madonna della Cesta (1615) Ixion, King of the Lapiths, Deceived by Juno, Who He Wished to Seduce (1615) Daniel in the Lions' Den (1615) Bacchanalia (c. 1615) A Statue of Ceres (c. 1615) The Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt (1615–1616) The Tiger Hunt (1615–1616) Theodosius and Saint Ambrose (1615–1616) The Wild Boar Hunt (1615–1617) Florence Resurrection (1616) The Virgin and Child Surrounded by the Holy Innocents (1616) Erichthonius Discovered by the Daughters of Cecrops (c. 1616) The Wolf and Fox Hunt (c. 1616) The Lion and Leopard Hunt (c. 1616) Romulus and Remus (1615–1616) Miracles of St. Francis Xavier (1616–1617) Saint Stephen Triptych (1616–1617) Two Women with a Candle (1616–1617) Descent from the Cross (Lille; 1616–1617) The Meeting Between Abraham and Melchizedek (1616–1617) Christ and the Penitent Sinners (1617) Mars and Rhea Silvia (1617) The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man (1617) The Great Last Judgement (1617) A Bearded Man (c. 1617–18) Adoration of the Magi (Lyon; 1617–1618) The Five Senses (1617–1618) Two Satyrs (1618) Medusa (1618) The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus (c. 1618) Christ Triumphant over Sin and Death (c. 1618) The Prodigal Son (1618) The Union of Earth and Water (c. 1618) Tigress with Her Cubs (attributed; 1618) Mucius Scaevola before Lars Porsenna (c. 1618–1620) Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee (1618–1620) The Wild Boar Hunt (1618–1620) St Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy (1619–1620) The Small Last Judgement (1619) Conversion of Saint Paul (1620s) The Fall of the Damned (c. 1620) Landscape with Philemon and Baucis (c. 1620) Portrait of a Young Man in Armor (c. 1620) Saint George and the Dragon (c. 1620) Perseus Freeing Andromeda (1620) Saints Dominic and Francis Saving the World from Christ's Anger (1620) The Rape of Orithyia by Boreas (1620) Christ on the Cross (1620) The Three Graces (Florence; 1620–1623) Isabella Brant (c. 1621) The Lion Hunt (1621) Marie de' Medici cycle (1621–1630) Portrait of Susanna Lunden (1622) Perseus and Andromeda (c. 1622) The History of Constantine (1622–1625) Self-Portrait (1623) The Conversion of Saint Bavo (1623–1624) Diana and Her Nymphs Leaving for the Hunt (1623–1624) Adoration of the Magi (Antwerp; 1624) The Reconciliation of Esau and Jacob (1624) Christ Appointing Saint Roch as Patron Saint of Plague Victims (1623–1626) Portrait of Infante Isabella Clara Eugenia (1625) Portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (c. 1625) Assumption of the Virgin (Antwerp; 1625–1626) Angelica and the Hermit (c. 1626–1628) Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry (1627) The Triumphal Entry of Henry IV into Paris (1627) The Annunciation (1627–1628) The Fall of Man (1628–1629) The Rape of Europa (1628–1629) Henry IV Seizing the Opportunity to Conclude Peace (c.1628) Minerva Protecting Peace from Mars (1629–1630) Cimon and Pero (1630) Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata (c. 1630) Achilles Defeating Hector (c.1630) Thetis Receiving the Arms of Achilles from Vulcan (c.1630) The Crowning of Saint Catherine (1631) The Ildefonso Altarpiece (1630–1631) Last Supper (1630–1631) Odysseus on the Island of the Phaecians (1630–1635) The Finding of Erichthonius (1632–1634) The Rainbow Landscape (Saint Petersburg; 1632–1635) The Garden of Love (c. 1633) Adoration of the Magi (Cambridge; 1634) Bathsheba at the Fountain (c. 1635) The Dance of the Villagers (1635) Helena Fourment with Her Son Frans (1635) Venus and Adonis (New York; 1635) The Triumph of the Church (1635) The Feast of Venus (1635–1636) Deucalion and Pyrrha (1636–1637) The Feast of Herod (1635–1638) The Village Fête (1635–1638) Mercury and Argus (1635–1638) Hercules's Dog Discovers Purple Dye (c. 1636) Helena Fourment with Children (1636) A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning (1636) Saturn (1636) The Rainbow Landscape (London; 1636) Pallas and Arachne (1636–1637) Het Pelsken (1636–1638) Assumption of the Virgin (Vienna; c. 1637) The Birth of the Milky Way (c. 1637) Consequences of War (c. 1638) Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides / Deianira Listens to Fame (1638) The Three Graces (Madrid; 1636–1638) The Rape of Ganymede (1636–1638) Diana and Callisto (1637–1638) Helena Fourment with a Carriage (1638) Self-Portrait (Vienna; 1638–1639) Bacchus (1638–1640) The Rape of the Sabine Women (1639–1640) The Peasants Returning From The Fields (1640) The Rainbow Landscape (Munich; 1640) Judgment of Paris (various)
Tapestries	The History of Constantine (1622–1640) (with Pietro da Cortona)
Books	Palazzi di Genova (1622)
Museums	Rubenshuis
People	Rubens family Isabella Brant (first wife) Helena Fourment (second wife) Nicolaas Rubens, Lord of Rameyen (son) Albert Rubens (son) Jan Rubens (father) Maria Pypelinckx (mother) Philip Rubens (brother) Tobias Verhaecht (teacher) Adam van Noort (teacher) Otto van Veen (teacher) Nicolaas Rockox (friend)
Related	Poussinists and Rubenists Rubens (1977 film) Rubenesque Rubens' Europe (exhibition)

v t e Belgium Castles in Belgium
Abée Castle Acoz Castle Alden Biesen Castle Chateau des Amerois Annevoie Castle Antoing Castle Château d'Anvaing Château royal d'Ardenne Ardooie Castle Kasteel van Arenberg Aspremont-Lynden Castle Attre Castle Beauvoorde Castle Beersel Castle Château de Belœil Belvédère Castle La Berlière Castle Château de Beurthé Château Bilquin de Cartier Binche Palace Blanmont Castle Boelare Castle Château de Bois-Seigneur-Isaac Bolland Castle Bonlez Castle Bonneville Castle Bornem Castle Borrekens Castle Bossenstein Castle Bouchout Castle Château de Bouillon Braine Castle Château des Cailloux Chimay Castle Royal Castle of Ciergnon Cleydael Castle Château de Corroy-le-Château Couwelaar Castle Crèvecœur Castle Crupet Castle Dave Castle Deulin Castle Diepenbeek Castle Donnea Castle Château de Duras Écaussinnes-Lalaing Castle Elewijt Castle Castle of l'Estriverie Fagnolle Castle Falaën Castle La Falize Castle Château de Fallais Falnuée Castle Fanson Castle Farciennes Castle Faulx-les-Tombes Castle Fernelmont Castle Château de Flawinne Florennes Castle Château de Fontaine Fontaine-l'Évêque Castle Fosteau Castle Château de La Fougeraie Franc-Waret Castle Franchimont Castle Castle of Freÿr Gaasbeek Castle Geeraard de Duivelsteen Gors Castle Gravensteen Groot-Bijgaarden Castle Guirsch Castle Ham-sur-Heure Castle Hamal Castle Harzé Castle Hasselbrouck Castle Haultepenne Castle Hauteroche Castle Haversin Castle Havré Castle Heers Castle Hélécine Castle Hex Castle Houtain-le-Val Castle Ingelmunster Castle Jannée Castle Jehay-Bodegnée Castle Jemeppe Castle Kruishoutem Castle Karreveld Castle Kasteel van Laarne Kasteel Lagendal Landwijk Castle Lassus Castle Laval Castle Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Kasteel van Leeuwergem Leignon castle Limont Castle Loppem Castle Male Castle Château Malou Meylandt Castle Château Miranda Mirwart Castle Château de Modave Montaigle Castle Montquintin Castle Morialmé Castle Nieuwerkerken Castle Nokere Castle Ommerstein Castle Ooidonk Castle Oostkerke Castle Opprebais Castle Ouren Castle Kasteel van Poeke Rameyen Castle Ravenhof Castle (Torhout) Reinhardstein Castle Renesse Castle Reuland Castle Reijvissche Castle Rivieren Castle (Ganshoren) La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle Le Rœulx Castle Château-ferme de Roly Château Rose Château Rouge La Royère Castle Royseux Castle Rullingen Castle Rumbeke Castle Château-ferme de Samart Sars-la-Bruyère Castle Sart-Eustache Castle Château de Seneffe Solre-sur-Sambre Castle Solvay Castle Sombreffe Castle Sorghvliedt Castle Spanjaardenkasteel Spiere Castle Spontin Castle Het Steen Sterckshof Château du Stuyvenberg Tavigny Castle Templeuve Castle Ter Leyen Castle Thoricourt Castle Thuillies Castle Castle of Thy-le-Château Tielen Castle Tillegem Castle Tornaco Castle Trazegnies Castle D'Ursel Castle Château of Val-Duchesse Château de Vêves La Vicomté Castle Vierset Castle Vierves-sur-Viroin Castle Villers-sur-Semois Castle De Viron Castle Vogelsanck Castle Vonêche Castle Castle of Waha Walberg Castle Waleffe Castle Walzin Castle Castle of Warfusée Waroux Castle Wégimont Castle Castle of Westerlo Westmalle Castle Kasteel van Wijnendale Wissekerke Castle Château de Wodémont Zeebroeck Castle Zétrud-Lumay Castle		File:Braine-le-Château CH1c JPG.jpg File:Freÿr Castle R01.jpg File:Mirwart JPG02.jpg File:De Viron Castle (DSC 2198).jpg

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Het Steen (Elewijt)

Contents

Early history

Rubenskasteel

Subsequent history

Sources

See also

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Het Steen (Elewijt)

Early history

Rubenskasteel

Subsequent history

Sources

See also

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