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

Bust of the Virgin in Profile, the Child Reclining on a Cushion

1503-04
Pen and brown ink, 282 x 210 mm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

On this densely filled sheet, there are some additional figural motives, not related to the main subject, the Virgin and Child. Although some scholars have variously considered it to be either a workshop product, by the Master of the Manchester Madonna, or by Benvenuto Cellini, it is definitely one of Michelangelo's study sheets.