A Man Seen from Behind [verso]

Taddeo Zuccaro

1555

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance buttocks

About this work

This drawing shows a man standing with his back to us. His head tilts slightly, as if he’s lost in thought. The artist used red chalk for the man’s coat and pen with brown ink for the outlines. The loose lines feel quick and alive, not stiff or posed. That’s what makes this work special—it’s not a stiff portrait but a real moment caught on paper. Check out the cross-hatching in the coat’s folds. See how the lines crisscross to show depth.