Drawing the Human Figure chapter 12
In this study, as in the Rubens drawing, Michelangelo shows his mastery in overlapping one form on top of another. Notice
how the upper arm has been shortened. This makes it project forward to the viewer and creates a great sense of depth. The
lower arm overlaps the upper arm. Michelangelo had to severely foreshorten both the upper and lower right arm (as we look
at it) to achieve the sense of the arm projecting toward the viewer. Michelangelo may have measured the position of the
wrist in relation to the features of the face. He also foreshortened the back arm to show it receding back. Notice how short
the upper arm is, in this case.
From all of the examples in this section, you can see how important it is to compare and see relationships between forms in
order to obtain the right proportions, and the illusion of three-dimensionality. Make studies often and observe carefully.
Copy after Michelangelo Buonarroti’s Studies for the Crucified Human,
by Dean Fisher