Standing Draped Man [recto]

Jacopo da Empoli

1582

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

About this work

This sketch shows a man from behind, wearing a long, loose robe that drapes over one arm. His other hand rests on his hip, and his head tilts slightly to the side. The lines are soft and smudged, with warm red chalk blending into the paper. The artist focused on how light and shadow shape the folds of the cloth, giving it a three-dimensional look. This kind of drawing was often used to practice capturing movement and fabric. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and dark to create depth.