P 1 : KsF
0521551331 c 01 -p 3 CUNY 160 /Joannides 052155 133 1 January 11 , 2007 10 : 14
CATALOGUES 49–50 WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY AUTOGRAPH SHEETS 241present drawings cannot be as late as that, he may already
have considered doing so in the155 0s.
The fact that the purpose of the studies on the verso is
so clear invites us to consider the studies on the recto of
the present sheet and those in the Casa Buonarroti and
formerly Gathorne-Hardy in their light. The combina-
tion of powerful torso, full-length pose and a left arm
under strain suggests a supporting figure for the body of
Christ in either aDepositionor anEntombment. The latter,
as much as theCrucifixion,was a theme that preoccu-
pied Michelangelo in his last years, and various drawings
either by or after him show that he tried different ver-
sions of it. The three drawings in question cannot firmly
be connected with any of them, but a subject of this kind
seems to be their most likely purpose. Some further sup-
port for this is given by the two fragmentary sketches,
one a mere outline, the other quite roundly modelled,
which appear on the verso of CB 46 F/Corpus37 8. Both
seem to be bending forward and supporting something,
and both could well come from either a Deposition or an
Entombment.
The final drawing to be considered on the verso is the
curved line that separates the knee from the two studies
of the Crucified Christ and that was presumably drawn
first. It is obviously fragmentary and obviously has an
architectural function, but it is conjectural whether it is
the fragment of a ground plan or a profile. Given that in
155 7Michelangelo was thinking about the dome of St.
Peter’s, the latter seems the more likely.
It may be noted too that there are lightly drawn archi-
tectural sketches on the verso of the ex–Gathorne-Hardy
sheet (Corpus 382 ). These are difficult to decipher but
seem to consist of a curved form, surmounted by a sub-
stantial roll-moulding, a base, and then (perhaps) a volute.
At risk of over-interpretation, this could be a preliminary
idea for the crown of the lantern of St. Peter’s.History
Casa Buonarroti; Jean-Baptiste Wicar; Samuel Wood-
burn; Sir Thomas Lawrence (L. 2445 ); Samuel Woodburn.References
Lawrence Inventory, 1830 ,M.A.Buonarroti Case 3 ,
Drawer 3 [ 1830 – 80 ] (“Anatomical Studies on which
he has written Undici d’Augusto.”). Woodburn,184 2,
no. 71 (“Studies of the arm etc....with the hand-writing
of M. Angelo.”). Robinson,187 0,no. 5 (The recto and
[D] on the verso for the marbleDavid, datable15 0 1.).
Black, 1875 ,p. 213 ,no. 5. Gotti, 1875 , II, pp. 228 – 9
(Linked with commission for marbleDavidon 10 August15 0 1.). Berenson, 1903 ,no.15 4 7 (Feeble but probably
Michelangelo. Recto: unconnected withDavid.Verso:
possibly for a Crucified Christ.). Thode, 1908 ,I,p. 78
(Not forDavid.). K. Frey, 1909 – 11 ,no. 203 (Recto: not
forDavid,but datable c.15 0 1.); no. 201 b(Verso: by a
later hand, not Michelangelo.). Thode, 1913 ,no.38 9(As
1908 ;ofMedici Chapel period; similarities with Thode
390 .). Panofsky, 1927 – 8 ,p. 243 (Drawing and inscrip-
tion by Mini: a conscious falsification of Michelangelo.).
Berenson, 1938 ,no.15 4 7(As 1903 .). Wilde, 1953 exh.,
no. 120 ( 1555 – 60 ). Parker, 1956 ,no. 341 (Recto: late;
clear resemblance toDavidbutreminiscences found fre-
quently in Michelangelo’s works. Verso: “There can be
little doubt that, as claimed by Frey, the indication of the
head and right arms in...[A] of the verso were added
later.). Dussler, 1959 ,no.18 9(Michelangelo,155 0s.). De
Tolnay, 1960 ,pp. 226 – 7 ,no. 261 (Late.). Berenson, 1961 ,
no.15 4 7(As 1903 / 1938 .). Barocchi, 1962 ,p. 11 ,under
no. 5 (CB 9 F/Corpus not related to [Cat. 49 ].). Berti,
1965 ,pp. 400 , 403 (Both sides may be of c. 15 0 4.).
Schmidt, 1965 ,p. 34 (“Die Rotelzeichnungen [sic] eines ̈
rechten und eines linken Knies...und die Studien zur
‘Schlacht bei Cascina’...konnen best ̈ atigen, wie sehr ̈
Michelangelo die beugenden Kr ̈afte dieses Muskels ver-
traut waren.”). Hartt, 1971 ,no. 401 (Recto:15 4 5; study
for soldier bearing a halberd inCrucifixion of St. Peter.),
no. 411 (Verso:15 4 5; studies for aCrucifixion.“Does the
arch have some relation to the dome of St. Peter’s?”). De
Tolnay, 1978 , Corpus III, no. 381 (Recto: perhaps for a
figure in theCrucifixion of St. Peterin the Cappella Paolina.
Ve r so: studies for aCrucified Christ,c.155 7.). Hirst, 1988 ,
p. 69 (This and the ex–Gathorne-Hardy drawings once
parts of the same sheet.). Perrig, 1999 ,pp. 224 , 238 (By
Giulio Clovio; from Farnese Collection.).CATALOGUE 50Christ Appearing to the Virgin on the Morning of the
Resurrection
184 6. 91 ;R. 74 ;P.II 345 ; Corpus 400Dimensions: 221 × 200 mmWatermark: Robinson Appendix no. 17. Not in Roberts.
Crossbow in a circle. Similar watermarks are found in
Briquet, all dating between the late fifteenth and late
sixteenth centuries, but none is sufficiently close to the
present example to warrant citing.