Man Against a Tree
ca. 1543–44
Medium
Etching; first state of two
Dimensions
sheet: 12 1/16 x 8 3/4 in. (30.6 x 22.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.601.65
Tags
About this artwork
This prints titled "Man Against a Tree" by Master IQV|Michelangelo Buonarroti dates to ca. 1543–44. Executed in etching; first state of two, this work exemplifies the craftsmanship associated with Drawings and Prints. The piece demonstrates the technical skill and artistic vision characteristic of its period. The work's presence in a major museum collection attests to its significance in the broader narrative of art history. As part of institutional holdings, it serves both scholarly research an...
Art Historical Context
In the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and department, *Man Against a Tree*ca. 1543–44) stands as a captivating etching in its rare first state of two. Attributed to the enigmatic Master IQV after Michelangelo Buonarroti, 12 1/16 x 8 3/4-inch sheet captures the High Renaissance master's profound influence on printmaking. Etching, an innovative intaglio technique involving acid biting into a metal plate, allowed for intricate lines that conveyed texture and depth—here showcasing a muscular male nude leaning against a sturdy tree amid ancient ruins. Michelangelo, at the height of his late...