Head and Right Hand of a Woman

There is relatively little information available on this charming artwork, but much can still be gathered by comparing it to related Rubens drawings

The tools are very familiar, for sure. Ink strokes help to draw out the detail though this sketch does not contain quite the same qualities as others we have seen. For example, elements of the hand do not quite work and only really the facial features are actually finished.

Portraits were the main focus in Rubens' collection of drawings, simply because they were the area which needed the most practice. Full length anatomies would also require constant re-work in order to get the desired level of accuracy.

This famous Flemish artist would start with light strokes to layout his design before adding detail through contrasting lines, creating shadows. He could use different colours of ink to achieve this or simply go over the same area several times.

There are several members of the Renaissance and Baroque periods whose drawings require particular attention due to the extraordinary qualities that they display. Beyond Rubens, there was also some impressive sketch work from the likes of Raphael, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and Albrecht Durer.

Famous artists have long since been inspired by the facial features of attractive women, incorporating this beauty into countless portrait paintings and drawings. From the Renaissance and Baroque up to the present day, taking in also Pre-Raphaelites who were devoted to the female figure.