after his stay in venice rubens was hired by the duke of mantua as his court painter. the position allowed him to travel aside from making copies and painting originals rubin s was also in charge of acquiring antiquities and paintings by other artists. his first trip took him to florence one of the most affluent cities on the continent. generations of rule by the powerful methods the family had cemented the city status as the center of european trade and finance. the family s support of the arts and humanities made florence the cradle of the renaissance. the methods patronage was crucial for many artists. in the service of the duke of mantua rubin s worked his contacts and made sure to