MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
(b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma)

Ignudo

1511
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

The picture shows the Ignudo at the upper right corner of the Separation of Light from Darkness (above the Libyan Sibyl).

The poses of the four ignudi are very different from each other, without any attempt being made to obtain an effect of symmetry. Thus, the one above Jeremiah at the left, with a classical profile and a meditative attitude, contrasts sharply with the ungainly movement of the one the right, who laden with foliage and acorns, is throwing himself forward, his face in the shadow. On the opposite side, the two figures bend toward the centre, but with their torsos heads rotating in opposite directions with clearly distinct movements, splendidly rendered thanks to the artist's skilled use of perspective.