Academic Study, seen from the back 1725 - 1775

"Academic Study, seen from the back" is an etching by Italian artist Carlo Innocenzo Carloni, dating from between 1725 and 1775. This study, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a male figure in a reclined pose, seen from the back. The detailed rendering of the figure's anatomy demonstrates Carloni's masterful command of draftsmanship and interest in the human form, a hallmark of academic art. This study likely served as a preparatory work for a larger painting or sculpture, showcasing the artist's dedication to rigorous anatomical observation.