Upper Half of Skeleton from the Back
1544
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1544
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This drawing shows a human skeleton from the back, focusing on the spine, ribs, pelvis, and arms. The bones are sketched in a light, earthy brown line, with some shading to show depth. The spine curves naturally, and the ribs fan out clearly, while the hands and feet are drawn with careful attention to joints. This kind of scientific drawing was unusual for its time—artists often focused on flesh, not bones. The sketch looks like it was made to study how the body works inside. Next, check out the Renaissance movement to see how artists blended science and art.
