A Faun Grasping a Bunch of Grapes

black chalk and brush and brown wash; framing lines in pen and black inkPeter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640)/after 1616–18

Description

This drawing relates to a finished painting (now lost) by Peter Paul Rubens that depicted a faun (a woodland creature similar to a satyr) squeezing grapes into the mouth of a young Bacchus. That figure, shown here, could be Silenus, who educated Bacchus on the pleasures of wine, revelry, and nature. Rubens ran a large studio and employed numerous apprentices, one of whom may have made this copy after the original painting. As a form of instruction, Rubens added ink wash to the drawing to enhance the shading on the figure and shadows behind it.

Provenance

Unidentified collector's mark, grey stamp "C", verso (not in Lugt); Valerius Röver (1686-1739), Delft (Lugt 2984a-c), album 6, no. 14; his widow, Delft; with Hendrik de Leth; Johann Goll van Franckenstein (1722-1785) and his son (1750-1821), Amsterdam; Emile Wauters, Brussels (Lugt 911, lower right, in black ink); [his sale Frederick Muller & Co., Amsterdam, 15-16 June 1926, lot 172]; Henry Oppenheimer, London (Lugt 1351, not stamped);; [his sale, Christie's, London, 10, 13-14 July 1936, lot 305, cat. by K.T. Parker]; Mr. and Mrs. David Birnbaum, New York; with Mortimer Brandt Gallery, New York; Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland OH, USA

Dimensions

37.8 × 26.2 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

Drawings

Accession No

1943.341

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640)

Drawings • Flanders • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery