The Triumph of Henry IV c. 1630

This sketch by Peter Paul Rubens, dating from around 1630, depicts the triumphant return of Henry IV to Paris. The composition is dynamic and full of movement, with figures clustered around a chariot pulled by white horses. Rubens utilizes dramatic light and shadow to heighten the sense of grandeur and spectacle, characteristic of his Baroque style. The scene is brimming with energy and emotion, celebrating the power of Henry IV and reflecting the political and social climate of the era.