Abundance (Abundantia) — History & Facts
A crowned woman sits at the center, draped in a red garment with a blue cloak, her gaze lowered as she tips a large horn overflowing with fruit and gold objects onto the ground. To her left, a cherub with curly blond hair reaches eagerly toward the bounty, grasping a cluster of grapes while standing close to her knee. Behind her, a sturdy tree trunk rises diagonally, its branches twisting against the backdrop of a blue sky.
Light falls warmly on the figures, highlighting the woman’s bare shoulder and the cherubs’ limbs, while shadows gather under the folds of drapery and behind the tree. The composition is tightly arranged, with the figures forming a triangle anchored by the cornucopia at the center and the children’s gestures drawing attention to the abundance on the ground. The paint is applied in energetic, visible strokes, especially in the sky and foliage, giving the surface a lively texture.
Touches of gold, red, and blue create a rich, harmonious palette that emphasizes the theme of plenty. A second cherub appears at the lower right, crouched and reaching for fruit on the ground with both hands extended forward. Near the bottom left corner, several gold coins and a small golden vessel are scattered beside the cornucopia's contents.
The right edge is bordered by the rough, textured bark of the tree, which curves upward and frames the group. Loose, curving brushstrokes define the clouds and foliage, while the outlines of the figures remain soft and blend subtly into the background. Abundance (Abundantia) is painted by Peter Paul Rubens around 1630. The subject, an allegorical figure of abundance, is identified by the overflowing cornucopia and the presence of cherubs, which are traditional symbols of prosperity and fertility.
The genre is allegory, as noted in the museum’s description, and the work depicts a woman, cornucopia, cherub, and the concept of abundance.
Sources: National Museum of Western Art, record P.1978-0004 · Wikidata Q23949057 · Image source (Wikimedia Commons)
More Artworks by Peter Paul Rubens

The Coronation of Henri IV
Peter Paul Rubens

Portrait de Marie de Médicis
Peter Paul Rubens

Apollo and Daphne
Peter Paul Rubens

Anne of Austria, Queen of France
Peter Paul Rubens

Bacchus and Ariadne
Peter Paul Rubens

Christ on the Cross with Maria, Mary Magdalene and St John
Peter Paul Rubens

Equestrian portrait of Charles Colonna, Duke of Marsi
Peter Paul Rubens

Hippomenes and Atalanta
Peter Paul Rubens

Perseus and Andromeda
Peter Paul Rubens

Meleager and Atalanta and the Hunt of the Calydonian Boar
Peter Paul Rubens

