RUBENS, Peter Paul
(b. 1577, Siegen, d. 1640, Antwerpen)

Leda and the Swan

1598-1602
Oil on wood, 65 x 81 cm
Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge

The great popularity of Michelangelo's Leda and the Swan remmained undiminished in the Broque period. Among the evidence of this are the copies by in Cambridge and Dresden. Rubens was a great admirer of Michelangelo's monumental, powerfully expressive figural compositions. During his stay in Italy he made copies of Michelangelo's frescoes, sculptures as well as some of his drawings.