a) Study of a Man Kneeling, Looking Upward (recto); b) Studies of the Same Figure (verso)

Francesco Fontebasso

1733

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century Allegory

About this work

This sketch shows a muscular man kneeling on one knee, his arms raised as if straining upward. His head is tilted back, and his body is twisted slightly, with one leg bent sharply behind him. The lines are quick and rough, capturing the shape of his muscles and draped cloth without much detail. The drawing looks like a quick study—maybe the artist was practicing how to show movement and tension in the body. The lines are all over the place, almost like scribbles, but they still make the figure feel strong. If you like this sketchy style, check out cross-hatching.