Painting study · Oil painting
Study for "The Bear Hunt" (for the Alcázar, Madrid)c. 1639 · Study 1983.69
Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640)
c. 1639
Recorded as oil on wood, this horizontal work measures 53.7 × 26 cm using the museum’s unframed dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
On June 22, 1639, King Philip IV of Spain received a letter from his younger brother Ferdinand (1609–1641). The letter explained that the artist Peter Paul Rubens had recently completed all of the sketches for a series of paintings that were to hang in the halls of the Alcázar Palace in Madrid. Bear Hunt is one of seven surviving studies out of the original eighteen. In this scene, a bear attacks a hunter and a companion comes to his aide The others work to stave off a second angry bear. The sketch was completed in the last year Rubens's life, and the paintings for the series were never completed.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
With just a few quick brushstrokes, Rubens evokes the energy and drama of a ferocious hunt.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected unframed measurement for Study for "The Bear Hunt" (for the Alcázar, Madrid) is 53.7 cm wide and 26 cm high, equivalent to approximately 21.1 × 10.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 2.07:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.14 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 17.9% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 123.2 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Study for "The Bear Hunt" (for the Alcázar, Madrid) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on wood, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 53.7 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
Related studies
c. 1620–25 · Flanders
Portrait of Isabella Brant
Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640) · oil on wood
c. 1615 · Flanders
Diana and Her Nymphs Departing for the Hunt
Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640); Workshop · oil on canvas
c. 1640 · Flanders
Peasants Smoking in an Inn
David Teniers (Flemish, 1610–1690) · oil on wood
1600s · Flanders
Ceres and Bacchus
Bartholomaeus Spranger (Flemish, 1546–1611) · oil on canvas
Ready to describe what you want in your own space?
Start an artwork inquiry ↗