Alcibiades Interrupting the Symposium (recto); Sketches of the Baptism of Christ and of a Man (verso)

Alcibiades Interrupting the Symposium (recto); Sketches of the Baptism of Christ and of a Man (verso) is a significant drawing by Peter Paul Rubens, executed between 1596 and 1606. This double-sided work, classified as a drawing, showcases the artist’s mastery of line using pen and brown ink over preliminary indications laid down in black chalk. The primary composition on the recto dramatically illustrates a scene from Plato’s Symposium, depicting the inebriated general Alcibiades interrupting a philosophical discussion. This choice of subject reflects Rubens’s keen engagement with classical literature and history during his formative years.

The verso further illuminates Rubens’s working process, featuring preparatory studies that explore different narrative concepts. These rapid compositional sketches include initial ideas for the Baptism of Christ, alongside a study of an anonymous Man. This combination of classical and Christian iconography highlights the breadth of subjects tackled by the young artist as he solidified his powerful early Baroque style.

Rubens utilizes the expressive quality of the pen to define the contours of the figures and suggest volumetric form, demonstrating the speed and confidence necessary for preparatory work. As a crucial example of Baroque draftsmanship, the piece reveals how the artist developed complex narrative scenes and figures before transitioning to oil painting. The original drawing resides in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although this study is a unique object, the finished works derived from preparatory materials like this drawing have frequently been translated into prints, ensuring that Rubens's monumental interpretations of subjects concerning Men and Christ remain globally accessible through public domain resources.