Portrait of Don Diego Messina 1627

Peter Paul Rubens made this likeness of Don Diego Messina with black and red chalk, heightened with white, on paper. The way Rubens has used these relatively humble materials really influences the appearance of the portrait. The chalk lends itself to the quick, confident strokes that define Messina's features. You can see the texture of the paper coming through too, giving the portrait a sense of immediacy. Rubens, of course, was no stranger to luxurious commissions – vast canvases dripping with expensive pigments. But here, he's working with a more direct, almost workmanlike approach. There's an honesty to the drawing, a focus on capturing the sitter's character rather than idealizing him. It's a reminder that even the most celebrated artists were deeply engaged with the fundamentals of making, and that these choices always carry social and cultural significance. Paying attention to the materials and processes, we gain a deeper understanding of Rubens' artistic practice and the world in which he worked.