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About This Work
This red chalk drawing is a preparatory study for Michelangelo's lost cartoon of the 'Battle of Cascina'. It showcases the artist's intense focus on human anatomy, capturing the extreme tension of the back muscles and the torsion of the body during a moment of sudden alarm.
Michelangelo's treatment of the male nude is deeply rooted in Renaissance Neoplatonism, which viewed the human form as a microcosm of divine order and beauty. This anatomical investigation aligns with the era's broader project of natural philosophy, seeking to uncover the hidden laws governing the physical world through the study of the human 'machine'.
Connected Texts
Marsilio Ficino
Michelangelo's artistic practice was heavily influenced by Ficino's Neoplatonic theories regarding the divine nature of beauty and the soul's expression through the physical body.
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
The heroic, dynamic figure exemplifies the Renaissance concept of the 'Dignity of Man' as articulated in Pico's famous oration, which places the human figure at the center of the cosmos.