Standing Youth with Hands Behind His Back, and a Seated Youth Reading (recto); Two Studies of Hands (verso) 1457 - 1504

Filippino Lippi's "Standing Youth with Hands Behind His Back, and a Seated Youth Reading (recto); Two Studies of Hands (verso)" (1457-1504) is a red chalk drawing that exemplifies Lippi's mastery of the human form. On the recto, the artist depicts a nude male figure standing with his hands behind his back and a seated youth reading a book. The verso features studies of hands. This drawing serves as a preparatory study for a larger work and reveals Lippi's meticulous approach to anatomical accuracy and the subtle nuances of human expression. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this exceptional example of Italian Renaissance drawing.