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

Four Studies for the Crucified Haman (recto)

c. 1512
Red chalk, 406 x 207 mm
British Museum, London

The red chalk studies on the present sheet are connected with the figure of Haman on the southwestern vault pendentive of the Sistine Chapel. For this drawing Michelangelo studied the figure on a living model and rendered it with the greatest of care, as Haman was not only the central figure of the fresco, but also gave the artist an opportunity to demonstrate a new, monumental body ideal that he had started to develop around 1510.

The verso of the sheet shows further detailed studies of Haman's upper body.




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