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 of anatomically accurate skeletons 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.
Provenance
Sir Thomas Lawrence, London (Lugt 2445, lower left, blind stamped). Samuel Woodburn, London (Lugt 2584, not stamped); [his sale Christie's, London, 4-8 June 1860] (according to departmental cataloguing sheet). Boguslaw Jolles, Dresden and Vienna (Lugt 381a, lower left, in blue ink); [sale Munich, 28-31 October 1895] (according to departmental cataloguing sheet). Prof. Otto Neubauer, Munich and London (according to departmental card). Mr. and Mrs. Claude Cassirer, Cleveland.
Accession Number
1964.380
Medium
pen and brown ink; incised
Dimensions
N/A
Classification
Drawing
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Cassirer