A Kneeling Man Holding a Staff c. mid 1550s

This charcoal drawing, *A Kneeling Man Holding a Staff*, is a preliminary sketch for a larger work by the Venetian master Jacopo Tintoretto, created in the mid 1550s. The dynamism of the pose, with the figure's weight shifted to one knee as he reaches down towards the ground, is characteristic of Tintoretto's style. The artist's use of quick, gestural lines emphasizes the fluidity of movement and anticipates the dramatic energy of his finished paintings. This sketch provides a glimpse into Tintoretto's working process, revealing the stages involved in his artistic creation.