P 1 : KsF
0521551335 c 04 -p 5 CUNY 160 /Joannides 052155 133 1 January 11 , 2007 11 : 34
CATALOGUES 70–71 STUDIO DRAWINGS AND DRAWINGS OF UNDETERMINED STATUS 313(L. 2364 ); William Young Ottley, probably his sale of18 03,
part of lot 27 (“Four – two of studies, pen, and two draw-
ings in pen and bistre bykent,fromM.Angelo’s model
for restoring the celebrated antique torso. See on the back,
quotations from Richardson and Wright.”); Sir Thomas
Lawrence (no stamp); Samuel Woodburn.References
Ottley sale,18 03, lot 27? (“Four – two of studies, pen,
and two drawings in pen and bistre by kent,from
M. Angelo’s model for restoring the celebrated antique
torso. See on the back, quotations from Richardson
and Wright.”).Woodburn,184 2,no. 74 (“Study for the
Restoration of the Torso – vigorous pen drawing.”).
Woodburn,184 6,no. 40 (As184 2.). Robinson,187 0,
no. 66 (Michel Angelo. “Sir Joshua Reynolds, to whom
this drawing formerly belonged, has written on the back
of it – ‘Michel Angelo/ Study for restoring the Torso.’”
But “Although there is a certain general resemblance to
the well-known antique fragment, the violent action or
movement of the figure is...different from that of its
supposed prototype. The exaggerated muscular develop-
ment, or rather the precise manner in which the superfi-
cial muscles are defined, suggests, on the contrary, the idea
that this was a sketch for a projected anatomical model for
the use of artists.”). Black, 1875 ,p. 215 ,no. 56. Berenson,
1903 ,no. 1723 (Heemskerck’s sketches should remove
any doubt that it is a sketch for restoring the torso; prob-
ably by Montelupo?. A smoother black chalk version of
the same sketch is in the Uffizi, perhaps by Daniele da
Volterra, but formerly ascribed to Michelangelo himself:
no. 1653 .). Justi, 1909 ,p. 256 (Michelangelo: sketch for
restoring the Torso.). Berenson, 1938 ,I,pp. 257 , 263 ,
no. 1723 (As 1903 .). Delacre, 1938 ,pp. 453 – 4 (Repro-
duced as Michelangelo?. Related to drawing at Dres-
den formerly attributed to Michelangelo but rejected by
Morelli [ 1892 , col. 54 ] and annotated Cambiaso.). Parker,
1956 ,no. 373 (Not Michelangelo. “A derivation from the
To rsoofthe Belvedere can hardly be doubted, and, even
if not by Montelupo, the drawing may well be the work
of some other contemporary sculptor.”). Berenson, 1961 ,
no. 1723 (As 1903 / 1938 .).CATALOGUE 71A Caricatural Head
184 6. 120 ;R. 12 ( 2 ); P.II 374
Dimensions: 118 × 85 mmMedium
Red chalk.Condition
The sheet is probably lined. There are extensive repairs
and major vertical and horizontal pressed-out folds. There
are some repaired fractures and tears with ingrained edge
dirt and toned infills, accretions, local staining and uneven
discolouration. The primary support is drummed by its
four edges to the backboard, so the verso is not visible.Discussion
This sheet was at some time torn into four and then re-
assembled; the left edge also seems to have been cutaway
and then restored.
The facial type is certainly related to those drawn
byMichelangelo, and, in the past, this drawing has fre-
quently been accepted as an autograph work, c.15 2 6.
The compiler would not exclude absolutely Michelan-
gelo’s authorship, but a lack of vivacity in the handling
and a dryness in the line-work suggest that it is less likely
to be by the master than to be a copy after him, by an
unidentified artist.History
Sir Joshua Reynolds (L. 2364 , fragmentary); Sir Thomas
Lawrence (no stamp); Samuel Woodburn.References
Lawrence Inventory, 1830 , Case 7 , Drawer 1 [ 1830 - 13 0ii]
(“Two small Studies in red Chalk, M. Angelo” [with
Cat. 68 ]). Woodburn,184 2,no. 57 (“Two studies on
one mount – both in red chalk,...the other a grotesque
head of a man.”). Woodburn,184 6,no. 29 (As184 2.).
Fisher, 1852 ,p. 6 , pl. 30 ,lower (As Woodburn,184 2.).
Fisher, 1865 ,I,p. 19 , pl. 30 ,lower (As 1852 .). Robin-
son,187 0,no. 12. 2 (Michelangelo, c. 15 0 0.). Fisher,
187 2,I,p. 17 , pl. 30 (As 1852 .). Black, 1875 ,p. 213 ,
no. 12 b.Gotti, 1875 , II, p. 237. Fisher,187 9, VII/ 7 ,
lower (“[A]pparently a caricature from life.”). Springer,
1883 ,I,p.31 0 (Shows influence of Leonardo.). Beren-
son, 1903 ,no.155 4. 2 (“[A]n amusing caricature, nearly
contemporary with” [Cats. 32 , 31 , 29 ].). K. Frey, 1909 –
11 , under no. 155 a (Not Michelangelo. By an artist from
the second third of the cinquecento who knew draw-
ings by Michelangelo and Leonardo; links with [Cat. 31 ]
and Louvre Inv. 684 recto/J 29 /Corpus 95 .). Justi, 1909 ,
p. 296 (Caricature of Alessandro dei Medici.). Thode,
1913 ,no. 397 (Frey wrong to dismiss this drawing; links
with Faun’s Head, Louvre Inv. 684 recto/J 29 /Corpus
95 .). Berenson, 1938 ,no.155 4. 2 (As 1903 .). Parker, 1956 ,