Head of the Eldest of the Three Kings
Artist
Peter Paul Rubens
(Flemish, 1577 - 1640)
Dateca.1620
Object number62.0300
Mediumoil on panel
Dimensions26 5/16 × 20 5/8 in. (66.8 × 52.4 cm)
frame (Gold Frame): 35 7/8 × 29 3/4 × 3 in. (91.1 × 75.6 × 7.6 cm)
frame (Black Frame): 36 1/4 × 30 3/4 × 2 in. (92.1 × 78.1 × 5.1 cm)
frame (Gold Frame): 35 7/8 × 29 3/4 × 3 in. (91.1 × 75.6 × 7.6 cm)
frame (Black Frame): 36 1/4 × 30 3/4 × 2 in. (92.1 × 78.1 × 5.1 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineMuseo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.
Collections
On View
Not on viewDescriptionThe printer and scholar Balthasar Moretus bought from his friend Rubens three paintings (then called “portraits”) of the Magi around 1624. In spite of his wealth, almost all the Rubens paintings that he owned were small. Head studies such as this, known as "tronies" in Dutch, were used in painters’ workshops as aids in the creative process. Perhaps Moretus was drawn to their spontaneous and intimate character, which show his friend's deft hand to great advantage. With a few quick brushstrokes, Rubens conjures up the different textures of the old man’s hair, his wrinkled skin, and the soft fur collar of his golden damask robe.
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