Rubens’ Study of the Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma
One of the objects in the extensive inventory owned by the State Graphic Collection Munich is an unusual large-format drawing made by Peter Paul Rubens. The drawing has been executed with a pen and brush in brown and heightened in white over a preparatory drawing in black chalk. It is considered to be a draft for the larger-than-life equestrian painting of the Duke of Lerma, now at the Prado Museum in Madrid. The strips of paper attached to the top of the drawing have always been a matter of technological interest. Furthermore, it is suspected that the drawing contains composition changes in several places. The incorrect removal of a former backing caused large-scale thinning and losses, which is why the drawing paper has been backed with Velin paper. The back side is thus concealed. Technical photography including transmission photography and digital infrared reflectography are being used to search for preparatory drawings and collector's marks. These may provide valuable information regarding the classification of the drawing within the works of Peter Paul Rubens and to aid in the reconstruction of its provenance.
29.08. – 08.09.06 I MON to WED 10.00-17.00, THU 10.00-18.00, lunchtime 13.00-14.00 closed, FRI 10.00 – 12.30 only
Staatliche Graphische Sammlung Printroom, Meiserstraße 10, 80333 München,
see site map 19
