'Modello' for the Ascension of the Virgin

'Modello' for the Ascension of the Virgin by Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577 - 1640 Antwerp) is a foundational oil-on-panel painting created in 1622. This work serves as a modello, a small-scale preparatory study, used to visualize the final, large-scale altarpiece commission. Rubens, the undisputed master of the Flemish Baroque, created this design to secure approval and guide his studio assistants for the massive painting destined for the ceiling of the Jesuit church in Antwerp. The finished ceiling altarpiece was later destroyed by fire, lending this surviving oil sketch critical historical importance.

The immediacy and dynamic brushwork visible in this oil sketch exemplify the artist’s characteristic energy and dramatic approach to religious iconography during the Catholic Counter-Reformation. The subject matter depicts the glorious moment of the Virgin Mary being bodily lifted toward heaven, surrounded by a swirling assembly of angels and cherubs. Rubens uses dramatic lighting and powerful diagonal composition, typical of the mature Baroque style, to emphasize the spiritual elevation and triumph of the scene.

The dense layering of paint on the small panel demonstrates Rubens's skill in rapidly defining complex figures and celestial radiance. This piece provides invaluable insight into the prolific working method of the celebrated artist, showing his initial conceptualization before scaling up to monumental size. The painting now resides in the esteemed collection of the Mauritshuis, where it is preserved as an essential example of 17th-century European art. Because of the historical importance of major Rubens works like Modello' for the Ascension of the Virgin, high-quality prints derived from institutional scans are frequently available through public domain art initiatives, allowing wide access to this Baroque masterwork.