medievalpoc:Peter Paul Rubens Four Studies of a Male Head Netherlands (c. 1617-19) Oil on canvas t
medievalpoc: Peter Paul Rubens Four Studies of a Male Head Netherlands (c. 1617-19) Oil on canvas transferred from wood, 51 x 66 cm. Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. These are by far the best photographs I have seen on this work, and we all owe a debt to the photographer. Four Studies is one of Ruben’s most popular pieces, despite the fact that it’s not one of his monumental works (some of which I have had the delight of seeing in person, and they are distinctively massive). Studies like this one were usually meant to serve as reference in the creation those larger compositions, which would usually depict scenes from the Christian bible, Greek or roman mythology, or historical scenes of battles, monarchs, or other notable events. -- source link