Artwork Page for Torsos with Rib Cages

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Torsos with Rib Cages

early 1540s

Battista Franco

(Italian, c. 1510–1561)
Culture
Italy, 16th century
Medium
pen and brown ink with incised lines
Support
Three sheets (joined) light brown laid paper, laid down on beige(1) laid(?) paper
Measurements
Sheet: 11.9 x 33.3 cm (4 11/16 x 13 1/8 in.); Secondary Support: 11.9 x 33.3 cm (4 11/16 x 13 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Cassirer 1964.378
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Michelangelo was among the first artists in Europe to attend a human dissection and to adopt anatomical knowledge as a necessity for depicting the human figure. These drawings by Battista Franco reflect the increased—and slightly macabre—interest in the interior workings of the human body inspired in part by Michelangelo’s example. Here, the groupings of rib cages, though rendered accurately, are placed into decorative piles. The odd assembly vacillates between scientific study and a symbolic memento mori, or reminder of death.
A horizontally oriented pen and brown ink drawing on tan paper features various anatomical sketches. On the far left, two skeletal rib cages are meticulously rendered. Moving to our right, three muscular, nude male torsos are shown. The torso on the far right is depicted in a frontal view, revealing highly defined abdominal and chest muscles. Extensive fine-line cross-hatching creates depth and shadow across the aged, textured surface.

Torsos with Rib Cages

early 1540s

Battista Franco

(Italian, c. 1510–1561)
Italy, 16th century

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