Study of the Allegorical Figure Bellona in Rubens’ ‘The Apotheosis of Henri IV’ II 1883 - 1886

This drawing was made by Paul Cézanne, using graphite on paper, as a study of the allegorical figure Bellona in Rubens’ painting ‘The Apotheosis of Henri IV’. Here, the mechanical reproduction of form through graphite allows Cezanne to record the details of Rubens’ original composition. The texture of the paper itself, though not overtly emphasized, provides a subtle grounding, a reminder of the physical support upon which this study takes shape. The varying pressure of the graphite creates depth and shadow, but also reveals a direct connection to the artist's hand, and emphasizes the human labor of studying old masterworks to develop new aesthetic styles. This act of replication, this slow and deliberate tracing, becomes a method of understanding. It underscores the role of drawing not just as a preliminary step to painting or sculpture, but as a critical tool for visual thinking. Ultimately, this work invites us to reconsider the value of the copy, and the relationship between material, labor, and artistic interpretation.