Study for "The Bear Hunt" (for the Alcázar, Madrid)

Study for "The Bear Hunt" (for the Alcázar, Madrid) is a powerful preparatory sketch created by the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens between 1634 and 1644. Executed rapidly in oil on wood, this small-scale work demonstrates the artist’s dynamic compositional strategies before transferring them to a monumental canvas. The subject matter, a violent and active bear hunt involving horses, hunters, and attacking dogs, was destined for the royal Alcázar in Madrid as part of a prestigious series of hunting commissions for the Spanish Habsburg court.

As a modello or study, the painting prioritizes raw energy and the rapid organization of action rather than minute detail. Rubens uses energetic brushwork characteristic of the Flemish Baroque style, effectively capturing the chaos of the chase as riders and dogs engage in mortal combat with the cornered beast. This piece clearly illustrates the dramatic intensity and technical virtuosity for which Rubens is renowned, solidifying his pivotal role in 17th-century European art.

Originating from Belgium, this spirited oil sketch offers critical insight into the production process of Rubens’s late, large-scale hunting cycles commissioned for Spanish royalty. While the fate of the final, large-scale painting intended for Madrid is uncertain, this study preserves the artist’s original, vibrant vision. This important painting resides today in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and its historical significance means high-quality prints and related works are frequently available within public domain collections.