Rubens' close involvment with the resurgence of Catholicism and the struggle for power led to the production of numerous large altar pieces.  His Baroque ideas came before The Lance (1619-1620), with its emotionally charged, highly plastic figures and The Adoration of the Magi (1624).  This painting is impressive because of its animated, assymetrical composition, bright color, and expressions of the charcters in the painting.