The Presentation of the Virgin is a significant drawing attributed to the School of Peter Paul Rubens Flemish, 1577-1640. Created sometime between 1597 and 1700, this work reflects the profound religious narrative art prevalent in Belgium during the Baroque era. The School of Rubens was instrumental in defining 17th-century European artistic output, demonstrating how the master’s compositional ideas were disseminated and adapted by his prolific workshop assistants, who frequently explored biblical subjects such as this one, depicting the youthful Mary ascending the temple steps.
The execution of this piece utilizes a sophisticated technique, combining pen and brown ink alongside black chalk, layered with the subtle tonal variation achieved through brush and gray and brown wash. This precise application of wash creates dramatic effects of light and shadow, emphasizing the Flemish Baroque interest in chiaroscuro and movement. Rendered on ivory wove paper and subsequently laid down on tan wove paper, the complex structure indicates the drawing's status as a valued workshop study, possibly intended as a modello or a preparatory sketch for a larger painting or tapestry. This important cultural artifact from the Belgian Baroque is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and high-quality prints and digital reproductions are often made available through the public domain.
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