Study of the Man Raised from the Dead and Two Studies of Legs in a Kneeling Position, for figures in "Miracles of St Francis Xavier"

1618

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Study of the Man Raised from the Dead and Two Studies of Legs in a Kneeling Position, for figures in "Miracles of St Francis Xavier" is a 1618 by Peter Paul Rubens, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Peter Paul Rubens
When & what style?: 1618 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing presents a nude male figure in two distinct poses. On the left, the man sits with his legs bent and his torso twisted to the right, showcasing his muscular physique. In contrast, the two sketches on the right depict legs in a kneeling position, with one leg bent at the knee and the other extended behind it. The drawing is rendered in a detailed and realistic style, with attention to the contours and textures of the human form. The artist's use of shading and hatching creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figure. For more works like this, explore the Baroque movement.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing shows a man in profile wearing only a loincloth, seated upright with his weight on his hands and legs extended forward; attached at the upper right is a separate sheet bearing two studies of a left leg, one from behind and one in profile. The sheet passed through the collections of Sir Benjamin West and Sir Thomas Lawrence before being bequeathed by Miss Emily Dalton to the museum in 1900.

Read the full account in the museum source.