Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) presided over one of the most dynamic artistic workshops of seventeenth-century Europe, with drawing at the center of his practice. For Rubens, draughtsmanship was a way of thinking: rapid pen sketches capture the first stirrings of complex compositional scenes, while chalk studies reveal his research into anatomical studies and his mastery of light and volume. The influence of classical sculpture on his art shows how he fused observation, memory and invention. In his celebrated portrait of the young Helena Fourment, the artist carefully defined the delicate features and ornate dress of his second wife through a subtle and confident use of red, black and white chalks.

Rubens’s prolific output, international reputation and dynamic technical skills influenced many artists who learnt directly from the master or were inspired by him. This display will showcase some of their works, including drawings by Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens and Abraham van Diepenbeeck, among others. A number of sheets formerly attributed to Rubens are now understood as studio works, reminding us that authorship in such a prolific workshop was often layered and collaborative. Together, these drawings illuminate a creative community defined by exchange, experimentation and the continual reworking of ideas that helped shape Baroque art across Europe.