Rubenshuis Acquires Rare Rubens Drawing with Letter on Back

The Rubenshuis museum in Antwerp has acquired an exceptionally rare double-sided sheet by Peter Paul Rubens, dated September 1607 — a drawing of three men in classical robes on one side and a handwritten draft letter in Italian on the other. The acquisition offers an intimate glimpse into the master’s creative process and diplomatic activities during his formative years in Italy.

“Something like this doesn’t come to market often,” said An Van Camp, curator at the Rubenshuis, in an interview with VRT NWS.

A Unique Double-Sided Treasure

The sheet, created in Rome in September 1607, features a sketch of three men in classical robes — described by Van Camp as “probably studies for apostles” — on one side. On the reverse, Rubens penned a draft letter in Italian to fellow painter Cristoforo Roncalli, discussing an order from the influential Eleonora de’ Medici, Duchess of Mantua. Between 1600 and 1608, Rubens served as court painter to Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and was active in Rome as an art advisor.

According to Van Camp, there is only one other known double-sided sheet in the world with a Rubens drawing on one side and a letter on the other — that sheet is held in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Rubenshuis previously owned only two original drawings and ten letters by Rubens, all from later dates, making this acquisition a significant enrichment of the collection.

Purchase and Display

The King Baudouin Foundation (Koning Boudewijnstichting) purchased the work at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair for €110,000, successfully negotiating down from the dealer’s initial asking price of €145,000. “The art dealer asked 145,000 euros at the fair, but the King Baudouin Foundation was able to negotiate very well,” Van Camp told VRT NWS.

The Rubenshuis receives the work on loan for six months. It will be displayed in the Rubens Experience, the museum’s temporary exhibition space while the Rubenshuis undergoes extensive renovation. For the first three months, the drawing side will be shown to the public; then the sheet will be flipped to display the letter for the following three months.

“Together, both sides fill a gap in our knowledge of Rubens’ diplomatic practice around 1607, when he was active in Rome as an art advisor,” Van Camp explained.

Rarity on the Art Market

Drawings and letters by Rubens rarely appear on the art market today, and when they do, they are typically sold to foreign museums or private collectors. “Normally they are sold to foreign museums or collectors, so this is truly special for our country,” Van Camp said.

The King Baudouin Foundation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, has a track record of bringing significant artworks back to Belgium. It previously facilitated the return of the Rubens silver set (1635–1636) to the Rubenshuis. In 2026, the foundation also became a museum partner of TEFAF Maastricht, one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs.

Permanent Home and Future

The Rubenshuis is currently closed for a major renovation and is not expected to reopen until 2030 at the earliest. Upon reopening, the double-sided sheet will receive a permanent place in the museum. In the meantime, visitors to the Rubens Experience can view this extraordinary piece — first the drawing, then the letter — offering a rare window into both the artistic genius and the personal correspondence of one of the Flemish Baroque’s greatest masters.

The acquisition brings an important artwork and document back to Belgium, ensuring that this unique piece of cultural heritage remains accessible to the Belgian public and to scholars studying Rubens’ Italian period.