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

Portrait of a Woman (recto)

1530s
Pen and brown ink, over black and red chalk, 320 x 256 mm
British Museum, London

This large drawing of the half-length figure of a woman in an elaborate costume, seated slightly to left, looking to front was first sketched in red chalk with some black chalk in the lower part. The initial sketch was then gone over in long strokes of the pen.

On the verso of the sheet is a half-length sketch in black chalk of a standing young woman, equally in costume.

According to Vasari, among the drawings created for Tommaso dei Cavalieri, were several "divine heads" in black and red chalk. The present drawing probably belongs to this group.