Rubens and His Legacy will bring together a selection of Rubens's greatest masterpieces alongside artists as diverse as Manet, Klimt and Turner.
The exhibition, which opens in January 2015, will present more than 160 works by Rubens and those he inspired.
Later in the year, the academy will host the first British overview of the work of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
The landmark show will include major works spanning Ai Weiwei's career, as well as new pieces by the artist.
'Impact'
Peter Paul Rubens is considered the most influential of Flemish painters.
"His visual language has had an impact on art from his own day, right up to now," explains Professor Mary Beard.
"Popularly known for his fleshy, sensuous, Ruben-esque women... there are certainly some paintings in this show that will challenge our own assumptions about body image and sexuality."
