after Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640)

Portrait of Helena Fourment?

Antwerp, 1630-1635

Drawing with black and red chalk heightened with white

561 x 351 mm

Both the former attribution to Rubens and the identification of the sitter as Helena Fourment are doubtful, and compromised by poor condition. The traditional identification of the sitter as the artist’s second wife stems from the similarity of her pose and costume to those of Helena Fourment in Rubens’ portrait of her with two of her children now in the Louvre.

The drawing is closely related to a grisaille sketch of ‘The Wise Virgins’ in a private collection in Belgian.

Purchased 1936 (No. 36.4)

WORKS ON PAPER

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