La "Danza de aldeanos" de Rubens en el Prado

I am going to talk about one of the most charming paintings by Rubens, his Dance of the Villages in the Prado. It is one of the most attractive and important works of his last stage; but, although greatly admired, it has not received the attention, let alone the gloss, that it deserves. It is obvious to anyone familiar with Rubens' painting that this picture must be dated to the last decade of his life, when, after his long services as a courtier and diplomat, he retired to the country with his young wife Hélène Fourment.