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 Info
St Gregory the Great with Saints
1606
Oil on canvas, 146 x 119 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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



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