Rubens probably traveled south, together with his friend Deodaat van den Berg/Deodata del Monte, by way of the Rhine, Strassburg, Basel and Schaffhausen, over the Alps and probably entered Italy by way of the Gotthardt Pass: although this is not absolutely certain, it is certain that he was in Venice in July 1600: here he was engaged as court painter for the Gonzaga in Mantua; Morselli 2018B, p. 87