Sketch Book for the Artist

THE

BODY

Postures and Poses

THESE DISTINCTIVE WORKS show two strikingly different ways

of modeling the body on paper. Raphael drew delicate tones

of black chalk on tinted paper, while Matisse used scissors

and glue to cut out and paste a flat collage of brilliant color.

Principal figures mirror each other. They both raise one

arm to cup their head in their hand, while supporting the

weight of their body with the other. But the meanings of

each gesture and the materials and methods by which they

were made contrast greatly. Raphael's study of fallen men

leaves no doubt that they are in anguish. In a single drawing

we see equally observed studies of foreshortening (see

pp.116-17), anatomy, and human defeat. By way of contrast,

Matisse's blue nude sings with life and celebration. In this

highly sophisticated abstraction, we see the essence of her

beauty without a single detail. She unfolds and stretches

shapely limbs, filling the page with her presence.

RAFFAELLO SANZIO (RAPHAEL)

Italian High Renaissance painter: Raphael is best known

for his images of the Madonna and Child, altar pieces,

and Vatican frescos. He trained under Perugino, and

studied to learn from the works of Michelangelo and

Leonardo besides whom he was soon ranked.

Sculptural frieze This is a preparatory drawing for Raphael's

painting of the Resurrection of Christ. Here three male nudes are

compressed into very shallow pictorial space, so that we read this

drawing like a sculptural frieze. Muscular dramatic postures reflect

the influence of Michelangelo and the Renaissance celebration of

the idealized male body.

Three Guards

1500-20

91 / 4 x 143 / 8 in (234 x 365 mm)

RAPHAEL