Sketches and drawings
by Peter Paul RUBENS

In Rubens's workshop practice drawings played an important role. First he made a quick sketch, usually drawn and washed in brown ink. (In some cases, however, he painted the first designs in grisaille on a panel.) Next he produced a detailed "modello" in colour (a sketch in oil), which was submitted to the client who either approved it or gave his comments on it. Once the composition existed in the shape of a definitive modello, all kinds of anatomical details were established in separate detail studies. Thus he made chalk drawing from nude male models posing for him in attitudes required by the composition. The many studies of heads played also an important role in the practice. Finally Rubens made several further studies of movement details. However, there are also drawings by his hand of architectural details, trees, animals and even farm implements.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
St Gregory the Great with Saints
1606
Oil on canvas, 146 x 119 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

820*1001
True Color
128 Kb



The Lamentation
c. 1606
Oil on copper, 28 x 24 cm
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville

698*800
True Color
99 Kb



Adoration of the Shepherds
1608
Oil on canvas transferred from panel, 64 x 47 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

800*1113
True Color
116 Kb



The Madonna della Vallicella Adored by Seraphim and Cherubim
1608
Oil on canvas, 86 x 57 cm
Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna

857*1300
True Color
189 Kb



The Lamentation
c. 1609
Oil on panel, 34 x 27 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

800*1007
True Color
97 Kb



King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
1620
Oil on panel, 41 x 46 cm
Courtauld Gallery, London

941*850
True Color
182 Kb



Esther before Ahasuerus
1620
Oil on wood, 33 x 32 cm
Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna

1040*900
True Color
133 Kb



'Modello' for the Assumption of Mary
1622-25
Oil on panel, 88 x 59 cm
Mauritshuis, The Hague

999*1500
True Color
249 Kb



Christ on the Cross
1627
Oil on panel, 51 x 38 cm
Rockox House, Antwerp

829*1102
True Color
174 Kb



The Flagellation of Christ
-
Oil on panel, 37,4 x 35,1 cm
Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent

784*900
True Color
122 Kb



The Chariot of Apollo
1620s
Oil on oak panel, 99 x 73 cm
Private collection

803*1122
True Color
90 Kb



The Victory of Eucharistic Truth over Heresy
c. 1626
Oil on panel, 86 x 105 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid

1034*850
True Color
176 Kb



Triumph of Church over Fury, Discord, and Hate
1628
Oil on panel, 86 x 91 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid

1102*900
True Color
175 Kb



Apollo and the Python
1636-37
Oil on panel, 27 x 42 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid

1400*884
True Color
232 Kb



The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek
1625
Oil on panel, 66 x 82 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington

800*632
True Color
178 Kb



The Prophet Elijah Receiving Bread and Water from an Angel
1625-28
Oil on canvas, 72 x 62 cm
Musée Bonnat, Bayonne

564*600
True Color
72 Kb



Raising of the Cross
1609-10
Oil on wood, 68 x 107 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

1410*900
True Color
201 Kb



The Meeting of Abraham and Melchisedek
1620-21
Oil on wood, 49 x 65 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

1220*900
True Color
154 Kb



Sketches
1622-25
Oil on wood, 50 x 64 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

1068*800
True Color
128 Kb



Death of Constantine
1623-25
Tapestry, wool and silk with gold and silver threads, 489 x 497 cm
Museum of Art, Philadelphia

900*896
True Color
237 Kb



The Three Graces
1620-23
Oil on wood, 47 x 34 cm
Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence

750*1111
True Color
180 Kb



Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints
c. 1628
Oil on wood, 80 x 56 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

908*1300
True Color
192 Kb



Music Making Angels
c. 1628
Oil on oak, 65 x 83 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

1300*1015
True Color
184 Kb



The Marriage of Henri IV of France and Marie de Médicis
1628-30
Oil on panel, 23 x 12,5 cm
Wallace Collection, London

450*873
True Color
83 Kb



The Birth of Henri IV of France
1628-30
Oil on panel, 21,5 x 10 cm
Wallace Collection, London

400*872
True Color
74 Kb



The Triumph of Henry IV
c. 1627
Oil on wood, 50 x 84 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

1600*944
True Color
234 Kb



Cupid Riding a Dolphin
1636
Oil on wood, 14,5 x 13,5 cm
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

750*779
True Color
123 Kb



The Fall of Icarus
1636
Oil on wood, 27 x 27 cm
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

800*810
True Color
168 Kb



The Triumphal Car of Kallo
1638
Oil on panel, 103 x 71 cm
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

700*1050
True Color
142 Kb



The Duke of Lerma
1603
Black chalk and pen
Musée du Louvre, Paris

480*694
Grayscale
106 Kb



Bust of Pseudo-Seneca
1600-26
Pen and brown ink over black chalk, with brush and gray ink, 265 x 177 mm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

816*1200
True Color
157 Kb



Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume
1617
Chalk, pastel, pen and ink on light brown laid paper, 446 x 248 mm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

977*1400
True Color
181 Kb



Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume
1617
Chalk, pastel, pen and ink on light brown laid paper, 446 x 248 mm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

819*1400
True Color
123 Kb



Silenus (or Bacchus) and Satyrs
c. 1616
Drawing, 383 x 266 mm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

906*1062
Grayscale
170 Kb



Portrait of a Chambermaid
c. 1625
Sanguine with charcoal, 380 x 280 mm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

666*820
True Color
131 Kb



St. George Slaying the Dragon
-
Pen with brown ink and brown wash
Musée du Louvre, Paris

462*600
True Color
46 Kb



Hercules Crowned by Genii
c. 1621
Drawing, 470 x 320 mm
British Museum, London

750*1093
Grayscale
113 Kb



Nicolaas Rubens
1625-26
Drawing, 290 x 230 mm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

850*1050
True Color
165 Kb



Portrait of a Young Woman
1630-36
Black and red chalk, 473 x 354 mm
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam

850*1132
True Color
135 Kb



Vision of Ezekiel
1605-08
Red and black pencil, grey watercolour on white paper, 300 x 225 mm
Museo Horne, Florence

822*1010
True Color
146 Kb




Summary of works by Rubens
Religious themes
until 1616 | 1617-20 | 1620s | 1630s
Altarpieces in Antwerp Cathedral | Biblical scenes
Mythological themes
until 1614 | 1614-29 | 1630s
Large royal projects | Allegorical themes
Portraits
until 1629 | 1630s
Miscellaneous
Landscapes | Hunting and other themes
Graphic works | Architecture