Stoics and Neostoics

Focusing on the late sixteenth-century Flemish intellectual scene, this book delves into the lives of Justus Lipsius and Peter Paul Rubens. It examines Lipsius' revival of Roman Stoicism and its influence on the Netherlands' revolt against Spanish rule, as well as his role in shaping future leaders. The analysis highlights how Lipsius' Stoic philosophy permeated Rubens' art, particularly in "The Four Philosophers." The text also addresses Lipsius' struggles with Catholic doctrine and how Rubens ultimately moved beyond Lipsius' philosophical constraints.