The Assumption of the Virgin Gm-00002201

Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640) In 1612 Jan and Balthasar Moretus, the owners of Antwerp's Plantin Press, commissioned their friend Peter Paul Rubens to design thirteen illustrations for a new Breviarium Romanum, the Catholic prayer book; this drawing and the twelve others were completed by March 1614. A friend since childhood, Balthasar Moretus would in his later years write of Rubens, "I loved this young man who had the most perfect and the most amiable character."

The assumption of the Virgin was a subject to which Rubens repeatedly returned throughout his career. In this version, the controlled, classical composition echoes one of Titian's altarpieces of the same subject. The bravura style of Baroque Italian painters also influenced Rubens's ebullient and dramatically foreshortened putti.

Rubens began drawing in chalk, which he then covered over with pen, ink, and wash. The chalk underdrawing contains several pentimenti, which are most obvious in the figure of the Virgin. These changes of mind, as well as the indents for transfer onto the plate are probably evidence that this drawing was the final of several studies, not the final sheet from which the engraver would work.

High Quality Wood Framed Print using museum quality paper and archival inks with a white border or with cut mat for a contemporary look. Comes with Acrylite glazing and hanging hardware. These are Made in USA or Europe depending upon your location.

Stretched Canvas is stretched over 1.25" thick pine bars and printed on heavy cotton poly matte finish canvas. Comes with mounting brackets. These are Made in USA or Europe depending upon your location.

Giclee Prints are printed on 260gsm satin finish using the finest archival inks. Each print carries a white border around the perimeter. The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within this paper size and includes a small white border. These are Made in USA or Europe depending upon your location.

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Artwork in this collection is from The J. Paul Getty Museum. Reproduction rights are reserved by the copyright owner and used under license by Archivea.