The Rape of Ganymede

Browsing Sotheby's online catalogue of Old Master Paintings Evening Sale on 5 December, I spotted a familiar Rubens, The Rape of Ganymede, but not the famous one in the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid (right). The Rubens on the left is a preliminary oil sketch on panel, and it's fascinating to see how Rubens modified his sketch into the finished work. Click the title link to go to my Comparisons Page 3 to read more and to view a larger graphic. If you have £80,000 to £120,000 to invest, the Rubens sketch is L07033-18. It's a snip when you think of its historic importance and the millions spent on trash by Picasso. You can view the original sketch at Sotheby's London, New Bond Street, from 30 November.