Sculptuur. Atlas c. 1535 - 1540

This anonymous 16th-century drawing, “Sculptuur. Atlas,” depicts a powerful, muscular figure, likely Atlas, holding the globe on his shoulders. The intricate detail of the body’s musculature is evident in the lines and shading of the drawing, revealing a deep understanding of human anatomy by the unknown artist. This work is a prime example of the Renaissance interest in classical art and its subject matter. "Sculptuur. Atlas" is housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is an important example of the drawing tradition of the period.