"For the great Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), drawing was a fundamental activity. In Rubens's large Antwerp studio, drawings were made for the creation of new paintings; collaborators used them to assist the master on these paintings; and they served as instructional material for pupils. The drawings were guarded from the outside world because they were considered a kind of studio secret; the competition could exploit designs for new compositions if they were released prematurely. How precious Rubens considered his drawings is evident from his testament, which stipulated that they should be passed on to any of his sons or sons-in-law who chose to be a painter; only when it was clear, once all his children were grown, that none would become an artist or marry one could the drawings be dispersed." "This volume presents, in full-color reproductions, more than one hundred of the finest and most representative of Rubens's drawings, ranging from delightful renderings of children and elegant portraits of noblemen and women to vigorous animal studies and beautiful landscapes. Essays by Anne-Marie Logan and Michiel C. Plomp provide overviews of Rubens's career as a draftsman and of the eventual dispersal of his drawings among collectors some fifteen years after his death. The authors discuss the various functions of Rubens's drawings as preparatory studies for paintings, sculpture, prints, and book illustrations and as private studies meant largely for the artist's own enjoyment." "The volume also includes a sampling of the artist's early anatomical studies and copies after antique sculpture, made during his years in Italy (1600-1608). In all likelihood it was also in Italy that Rubens began to collect old master drawings. Eventually he amassed a large quantity of other artists' drawings, most of them by sixteenth-century Italian masters, and he retouched, restored, or reworked many of them. These retouched sheets - several of which are reproduced herein - offer additional insight into his creativity. They are also a starting point for a discussion of the fortunes of Rubens's drawings among collectors."--BOOK JACKET.

Throughout his career, Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577¿́¿1640) created many drawings using multiple techniques and spanning various subjects. Made for the creation of new paintings as well as serving as instructional material for pupils, the drawings were considered a kind of studio secret, guarded closely by Rubens who feared exploitation by competition if the drawings were prematurely released. This catalogue presents more than one hundred of these works ranging from animal and anatomical studies, to landscapes and sensitive portraits. Accompanying essays provide overviews of Rubens¿́¿s career as a draftsman. -- Metropolitan Museum of Art website.