The natural surroundings and rural life around the castle served as an endless source of inspiration for Rubens. He painted The Rainbow Landscape from the - now almost disappeared - lock tower over the Zenne River, just a ten minute walk from Het Steen. As a surveyor, he observed the landscape carefully and depicted every detail meticulously. We see the vast lands that were part of his estate. In the background, we recognize the churches of Weerde and Elewijt, and beneath the rainbow, we see the Rubens castle and the windmill of Perk. However, the painting is not a mere snapshot. Rubens refined and perfected the image, describing the masterful play with the landscape as 'un poco aiutato' (a little helped).
