Tomyris avec la tête de Cyrus (verso)
c. 1637-38
Rubens captures a gruesome historical legend with incredible energy in this quick sketch. You can see the warrior queen Tomyris overseeing the moment her soldiers dip the severed head of Cyrus the Great into a bowl of blood—a revenge act for his death in battle. The loose, scribbly lines and exotic turbans show Rubens working out the composition for a larger painting, proving that even his rough drafts are masterpieces of Baroque drama. Since this is the 'verso' or back of a sheet, it gives us a rare peek into the artist's private studio process.
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