The Capitoline Eagle

Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1601/1602

The artwork is a detailed pencil drawing on paper, depicting an eagle with its wings spread wide. The eagle is centrally positioned, standing atop a spherical object. Its feathers are intricately sketched, showing texture and depth through the use of shading and line work. The bird's head is turned slightly to the side, with a sharp, curved beak and eyes. The talons are prominently gripping the sphere. The background is plain, emphasizing the eagle as the focal point of the composition. The overall tone of the drawing is monochromatic, relying on the variations in pencil shading to convey form and volume.
Artist
Peter Paul Rubens
Date
c. 1601/1602
Type
Drawing
Medium
black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
overall (approximate): 21.7 × 27.5 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The artwork is a detailed pencil drawing on paper, depicting an eagle with its wings spread wide. The eagle is centrally positioned, standing atop a spherical object. Its feathers are intricately sketched, showing texture and depth through the use of shading and line work. The bird's head is turned slightly to the side, with a sharp, curved beak and eyes. The talons are prominently gripping the sphere. The background is plain, emphasizing the eagle as the focal point of the composition. The overall tone of the drawing is monochromatic, relying on the variations in pencil shading to convey form and volume.

Peter Paul Rubens