Battle of the Amazons.

Drawing, black ink, grey wash, heightened with white, 86,5 x 133,5 cm, 8 sheets of laid paper, unsigned (browned, sm. part missing at bottom right, water stains at right, several tears, some restored).

Laid down on canvas, in large wooden frame (not studied outside frame). Monumental drawing.

The battle between the Greeks and the Amazons, also known as Amazonomachy. At right the Greek cavalry charging across the bridge of Troy, at left the Amazons falling backwards with their horses. In the background Troy in flames. In reverse after the famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) from ca. 1618 in Munich (Alte Pinakothek, inv. 324), in which he paid tribute to the "Battle of Anghiari" by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Our monumental drawing is probably based on the engraving by Lucas Vorsterman I with similar dimensions (cf. Hollstein XLIII.96-97.100). The painting by Rubens is depicted on the "Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest" by Willem van Haecht from 1628 in Antwerp (Rubenshuis, inv. RH.S.171).