Purchase the catalog. Click on a heading in the left frame to view a group of oil sketches relating to a particular theme, or select a thumbnail to see and read more about an individual work. Texts are adapted from the exhibition catalog.

Introduction The Church Triumphant Rubens as Entrepreneur: Designs for Sculpture, Architecture and Prints History and Politics: Glory to the Hero The Workings of the Studio: Head Studies, Portrait and Genre Myth and Majesty: The Humanistic Tradition Landscape and Hunt Scenes: Projects for Philip IV History and Politics: Glory to the Hero This section gathers oil sketches for various projects to investigate the relationship between art, history, and politics in Rubens's life and work. Rubens's brilliant compositions combining history and mythology with contemporary political figures reflect his training in the classics and his political and diplomatic savoir-faire. Peter Paul Rubens Decius Mus Relating His Dreams, ca. 1617 Oil on panel transferred to canvas (1773) in turn transferred to masonite (c. 1954-55), 80.7 x 84.5 cm Samuel H. Kress Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C, 1957.14.2 (1394) About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Emperor Julius Caesar, ca. 1626 Oil on panel, 33 x 26.6 cm Stephen Mazoh, New York About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Duke of Buckingham, ca. 1625 Oil on panel, 46.6 x 51.7 cm Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, no. AP 1876.08 About this work Peter Paul Rubens Briseis Returned to Achilles (detail), 1630-31 Oil on panel, 45.4 x 67.6 cm (without the added strips) The Detroit Institute of Art, Bequest of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Whitcomb, acc. no. 53.356 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Reconciliation of King Henry III and Henry of Navarre, 1628 Oil on panel, 22.5 x 18.4 cm Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester: Marion Stratton Gould Fund, acc. no. 44.24 About this work The Life of Constantine Peter Paul Rubens The Triumphant Entry of Constantine into Rome (detail), 1622 Oil on panel, 48.6 x 64.5 cm Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Clowes Collection, inv. IMA2001.237 About this work Peter Paul Rubens The Labarum, 1622 Oil on panel, 35.4 x 27.5 cm Private collection About this work Ceiling for the Banqueting House, Whitehall Peter Paul Rubens Two Figure Studies (Mercury and a Yeoman), ca. 1632-33 Oil on panel, 63.5 x 53 cm (2.5 cm strip added at right) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Ernest Wadsworth Longfellow Fund 42.179 About this work Peter Paul Rubens Peace Embracing Plenty, ca. 1632-34 Oil on panel, 62.9 x 47 cm Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.70 About this work

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