{"product_id":"rubens-painter-of-sketches-9788484804710","title":"Rubens: Painter of Sketches","description":"\u003cp\u003ePeter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) is the most important painter of sketches in the history of European art. His Italian and Flemish predecessors had for the most part prepared their paintings by using drawings. Rubens transformed this process by systematically making sketches in colour  with oil paint  and nearly always on panel supports. Rubenss oil sketches were essentially a new form of painting. They brought together the design and colour stages of preliminary work. Because their purpose was to advance another work of art  oil sketches demanded less effort and time than the final products  and this translated into a less polished finish and smaller size.Rubenss sketches invite us to indulge in his art. They are powerful  vivid renditions of a variety of themes  from ancient history and mythology to religion  still life and portraits. They combine seriousness of purpose and a zest for life  transmitted through a masterly lightness of touch. Their small size and appearance of incompleteness draw us in and entice us to look closely. Their sheer quality is a great source of pleasure and learning. This catalogue presents detailed studies and superb illustrations of eighty-two of Rubenss most eloquent oil sketches  and two essays explaining the historical context from which they emerged  their salient features and how they were viewed by contemporaries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45666300854325,"sku":"ByrdShop_8484804712","price":94.86,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9788484804710.jpg?v=1782427636","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/rubens-painter-of-sketches-9788484804710","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}