After « The Brazen Seprent » (1635-1640) in The National Gallery collections

A fabulous early copy very mastered after Rubens painting’s The Brazen Serpent conserved in the National Gallery collections.

What is immediately stunning consists in the use of watercolour (not a pencil study or a realistic copy with the same medium to the oil but using watercolour !) for copying an oil on panel masterpiece.

And it’s strickling to observe the painter has created with a new medium not a copy but another work inside the masterpiece copied.

The drawing is delicate. And it’s important to notice the choice of colors (especially to represent the flesh) more optimistic than the original that changes the sense of this work.

You can compare it with the original on the National Gallery of London website https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/peter-paul-rubens-the-brazen-serpent

A very interesting early copy from a flamish talented painter (probably from the XVIIth century) coming in a modern frame.