FIGINO, Giovanni Ambrogio
(b. 1548, Milano, d. 1608, Milano)

Sleeping Nude Figure

c. 1586
Pencil and white chalk on blue paper, 277 x 426 mm
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

Figino learnt from his master, Giovan Paulo Lomazzo, a systematic, precise process for naturalistic rendering. He began by copying works by the best artists - Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo - then moved on to making drawings after antique sculpture, and finally was deemed capable of studying from live model. The picture shows a life study for one of the sleeping apostles in the Agony of the Garden in Santa Maria della Passione, Milan.