Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry, 14 March 1590

Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry (c. 1627-30) at the Uffizi is among the most significant surviving fragments of Rubens's projected Henry IV cycle for the Luxembourg Palace — a monumental battle scene depicting the decisive engagement of March 1590 that confirmed Henry of Navarre's right to the French throne. The Battle of Ivry had become a foundational legend of the Bourbon dynasty: Henry's victory over the Catholic League forces — achieved despite being outnumbered, and sealed by his legendary plume blanc battle cry — was the military turning point that ended the Wars of Religion and began the reconciliation of French religious factions. Rubens's treatment deploys all his resources as a battle painter — the dynamic vortex of cavalry and infantry, the theatrical drama of the pivotal moment — at the largest scale his battle subjects ever achieved. The Uffizi's Florence location, across the Alps from the French royal context for which the work was intended, reflects the incomplete dispersal of works that were never assembled into their intended architectural setting because political circumstances prevented the cycle's completion.

The dynamic composition captures the chaos and energy of battle with Rubens' characteristic vigor. The rearing horses, clashing soldiers, and billowing smoke create a scene of explosive martial energy.

This modello for the unfinished Henry IV cycle from 1627 has been conserved as a valuable document of Rubens's unrealized plans. The vigorous sketch technique preserves the energy of Rubens's initial battle concept. The panel remains stable and the paint surface is well-maintained.