Open IIIF manifest What is IIIF IIIF viewers

Study of a torso (recto)

Maker

(artist)
1500-1599

Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1475-1564

Title

Date of Production

1500 - 1599

Medium

black chalk with stumping (recto), black chalk (verso) on laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 20.9 cm
Width: 15.4 cm

Accession Number

D.1958.WF.4672

Mode of Acquisition

Witt Fund, purchase, 1958

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

This drawing shows an exaggerated muscular torso in a moment of tremendous struggle and was probably copied from an ancient armless statue. The highly finished body contrasts strongly with the sketchily rendered tormented face and armour. Both these elements were possibly added by the draughtsman to enliven the composition. The meticulous use of the chalk and the choice of subject matter are indebted to Michelangelo. His intensive study of classical sculpture, including the famous Belvedere Torso today in the Vatican Museums, inspired many Renaissance artists.

Provenance

Pierre Crozat, Paris (1665-1740); Jean-Baptiste-Florentin-Gabriel de Meyran Marquis de Lagoy, Aix en Provence (1764-1829); William Russell, London (1800-1884), by 1877; his estate sale, Christie's (London), 11 December 1884, lot 284 (as by Michelangelo); possibly purchased there by Sir John Charles Robinson, London (1824-1913); anonymous sale (possibly Robinson's), Christie's (London), 12 May 1902, lot 231; purchased there by E. Parsons & Sons (London); Sir Robert Ludwig Mond, London (1867-1938), by 1937; by descent to his daughter, Mrs F.H. Brackley; her sale, Christie's (London), 14 October 1958, lot 50 (with D.1958.WF.4671); purchased there by Colnaghi (London) on behalf of The Courtauld Gallery via the Witt Fund (£50.8 for both)

Exhibition History

Special Display - Looking at Michelangelo, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 11/02/2010-06/06/2010

Drawings by the Old Masters and Water-colour drawings by deceased artists of the British School, Grosvenor Gallery, London, 1877-78

Literature

Borenius, Tancred and Rudolf Wittkower, Catalogue of the collection of drawings by the old masters formed by Sir Robert Mond, London 1937
no. 155

Inscriptions

Inscription: Michelangelo

Inscription: (188)

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Pierre Crozat (L.3612), the number '31'

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Jean-Baptiste-Florentin-Gabriel de Meyran Marquis de Lagoy (L.1710)

Collector's mark: collector's mark of William Russell (L.2648)

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Sir Robert Ludwig Mond (L.2813a)

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.uk. Find out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection