Study of a Standing Female Saint

The Study of a Standing Female Saint is a foundational drawing created by Peter Paul Rubens sometime between 1590 and 1640. As a preparatory work typical of the Flemish Baroque master, this piece showcases Rubens’s intricate draftsmanship and iterative working method. It was primarily executed using brush and light brown wash over a foundational sketch in black chalk, applied to light grayish paper. To refine the intended form, the artist meticulously reinforced key contours using pen and dark brown ink, adding clarity and definition to the figure’s silhouette and drapery.

Drawings of this classification were essential steps in Rubens's prolific output of large-scale oil paintings and altarpieces. They allowed him to quickly resolve complex poses and the heavy flow of fabric before committing to the final canvas. The subject is a draped figure of a woman, clearly intended to be a saint or a personification, indicated by her solemn pose and classicized robe. This emphasis on the study of the female form was central to the Baroque style, informing how figures were dynamically rendered, displaying the robust physicality that characterizes Rubens's mature style throughout the early 17th century.

The work remains a significant example of Rubens's preparatory process and is carefully preserved within the vast collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The wide dating range reflects the continuous refinement of the artist’s approach to figure studies during the height of his career. As a key work by Rubens, the Study of a Standing Female Saint is frequently referenced in art historical scholarship. Due to its historical significance and age, this masterwork has entered the public domain, making high-quality prints and academic reproductions widely accessible for research and public appreciation.