Surprisingly, until recently, the Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens was still overshadowed by Peter Paul Rubens in scientific debate--only recognized after the 19th century's influx of discourse on painter princes. However, Jordaens was the head of a significant workshop and had a major influence on the Antwerp art market for forty years after Rubens' death. This extensive collection of essays combines for the first time in balanced proportion the research of renowned experts on Jacob Jordaens from the field of art history and from the field of painting restoration. The interdisciplinary approach allows a closer look at the workshop's practice and the artist's creative processes. This results in a new image of the artist, who stands out for his undreamed-of innovative strength as well as his pictorial and intellectual independence.