Rubens had a lifelong interest in Antiquity and regarded the copying of ancient statuary as an important part of an artist's training. Throughout his career he turned to classical models and motifs as a source of inspiration, and as an eager antiquarian he built up a large personal collection of antiques. All Ruebens's drawings of antique sculptures, reliefs, gems, and coins are catalogued and illustrated in this volume.

Rubens was fascinated by the classical world and the exploits of the ancients celebrated on surviving sculptures, sarcophagus reliefs, engraved gems and coins. When he set out for Italy as a young artist in 1600, he was following in the footsteps of many Flemish artists before him, but Rubens drawings after the Antique have a range and thoroughness unique of their kind. They are catalogued here in detail.