The Drawings of Michelangelo and His Followers in the Ashmolean Museum

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CATALOGUE 14 WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY AUTOGRAPH SHEETS 111

This small scene does not occur on the Sistine ceil-

ing, but it is related in broad terms to the figure on

the right of theSalmon-Booz-Obethlunette. There is a

curved line running across the sheet parallel to the fig-

ure’s bent back, which reinforces the connection with a

lunette. Michelangelo seems to have recalled the form of

the bent old man in the early15 2 0sinasketch of an elderly

man carrying an infant on his shoulders (Florence, Uffizi,

621 Erecto/B 131 /Corpus 70 ;black chalk and pen and ink,

238 × 214 mm; the other drawing on this sheet, of aputto

urinating into a cup, was probably prepared for theBaccha-

nalcommissioned from Michelangelo by Alfonso d’Este

of Ferrara but never executed; it inspired a figure in the

Infant Bacchanalat Windsor [see Cat. 66 ] drawn in 1533 ).

Michelangelo adapted the recto again in15 6 0– 1 for the re-

verseofthe portrait medal struck of him by Leone Leoni.

Verso

A.A seated woman in left profile in two slightly varied

positions, notably in the head and right leg, looking at a

child lying across her lap, in pen; perhaps a more devel-

oped version of Cat. 13 verso E.

It has been suggested that this sketch is a first idea for the woman

on the right of theEzechias-Manasses-Amonlunette, which, if

correct, would imply that this lunette was executed during the

second campaign, but this view is rejected by Hirst 1986 a,no

doubt correctly.

B.A seated or standing figure turned half right, his right

leg raised and bent at the knee, his left arm bent forward

across his chest, looking forward, in pen.

This virile, dramatic figure does not seem a likely preparation

for one of the Ancestors, but it may be an early unused idea for

one of theignudi.

C.A lighter sketch, probably related to B, with the fig-

ure’s right leg lowered, in black chalk.

D. A seated figure, seen frontally, reading a book opened

across his chest, in pen.

This is another version of the figure sketched on Cat. 9 verso

G; these sketches presumably prepare a Prophet.

E.A seated figure in right profile, his right leg bent over

his left knee, his ankle held by his right hand, looking out