How did Peter Paul Rubens combine Italian influences with Flemish realism in The Elevation of the Cross?

In The Elevation of the Cross (1609–10), Peter Paul Rubens synthesized his experiences in Italy with the traditions of his Flemish heritage to create a powerful work of Baroque art.12

Rubens incorporated Italian influences by drawing upon the dramatic lighting and emotional intensity associated with Caravaggio, as well as the dynamic compositions and heroic, idealized forms found in the works of Tintoretto and Michelangelo. These elements provided the painting with its sense of movement and grand scale.12

Simultaneously, the work retains a distinctly Flemish character through its "rippling, silky surface" and an "animal vitality" that reflects the technical mastery of the Flemish school. By combining these Italianate structural and stylistic lessons with the traditional Flemish focus on realistic detail and material texture, Rubens produced a heroic affirmation of redemptive suffering that served as a hallmark of his early maturity.12