Study for the Nude Youth over the Prophet Daniel (recto)
Medium
red chalk over black chalk or charcoal
Dimensions
sheet: 34.3 × 24.3 cm · secondary support: 34.4 × 24.4 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift in memory of Henry G. Dalton by his nephews George S. Kendrick and Harry D. Kendrick
Accession Number
1940.465.a
Tags
About this artwork
Universally considered one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo devoted four years to painting the vast ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel. This preparatory study portrays one of the 20 athletic male nudes, known as ignudi, who serve as supporting figures at each corner of the Old Testament scenes painted down the center of the ceiling. Michelangelo worked out the positioning of the ignudi in red chalk drawings before beginning to paint each section of wet plaster. ...