Male Nude [recto]

Michelangelo

1560

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Nude

About this work

This sketch shows a man’s back and side, drawn in quick, loose lines. His muscles are lightly shaded, but the paper is mostly blank. The pose is simple—one arm bent, the other resting. The drawing looks unfinished, like a quick study. Artists often made these to practice anatomy and movement. Next, check out the Renaissance movement for more sketches like this.