Susanna

The drawing Susanna was created by Peter Paul Rubens during his prolific career (1577-1640). Classified as a preparatory study or modello, the piece demonstrates Rubens’s extraordinary facility with line and tone. He executed this work using pen and brown ink combined with broad applications of brush and brown wash. This technique allowed Rubens to quickly establish large masses of shadow and volume, essential characteristics of the Baroque style he helped define. Such drawings are crucial for understanding the genesis of his larger compositions, whether they ultimately became oil paintings or major altarpieces.

The subject illustrates the Apocryphal story of Susanna, a virtuous woman falsely accused by two lecherous elders. Rubens captures the moment of confrontation, focusing intently on the dynamic interplay between the central figure, the woman Susanna, and the two lurking figures of the men who threaten her. The intense contrast achieved through the drawing medium emphasizes the emotional turmoil inherent in the narrative. The application of the brown wash gives the figures a sculptural presence, powerfully conveying the physical drama required by Baroque traditions.

This highly detailed drawing provides valuable insight into the Master’s compositional process. This important work of draftsmanship is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because preparatory studies often served as educational tools or were reproduced for students, versions and high-quality prints derived from Rubens’s celebrated designs are often available to the public. Art enthusiasts can study the compositional clarity and powerful execution of this work, which, depending on its specific rights status, may be accessible for study or reproduction through public domain repositories, further cementing Rubens’s legacy across the centuries.