The Drawings of Michelangelo and His Followers in the Ashmolean Museum

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0521551335 c 04 -p 5 CUNY 160 /Joannides 052155 133 1 January 11 , 2007 11 : 34

338 COPIES OF SCULPTURES CATALOGUE 81

Verso: There are abrasions that have resulted in losses

to the medium.

Description

Recto

The young Hercules, standing with his right leg crossed

overhis left, supported under his right armpit by his club.

At the left, an elaborate ornament or trophy comprising

atriangular lion-footed base, with acanthus scrolls, sur-

mounted by a cushion on which is seated aputtoholding

aloft a helmet.

Verso

Topline: a bearded male head, similar to that of Michelan-

gelo’sMoses.

Second line: a left leg seen from the front; the so-called

Gnudo della Pauraseen from the rear; a left leg, slightly

bent, with the left hip and the lower section of the torso

more sketchily drawn, in left profile.

Discussion

The main recto drawing reproduces a figure identified by

the compiler in 1977 as theHerculescarved by the young

Michelangelo, probably in 1493 ,following his recovery