Study after Michelangelo’s Giorno c. 1550 - 1555

This is Jacopo Tintoretto's "Study after Michelangelo's Giorno," created sometime in the 16th century, with chalk on blue paper. Tintoretto, a Venetian painter, was deeply influenced by the High Renaissance, particularly by Michelangelo's focus on the human figure. Here, we see Tintoretto engaging with Michelangelo’s sculpture, ‘Giorno’ which is part of the Medici Chapel in Florence. The male nude is rendered with dramatic musculature and a sense of dynamic movement. Tintoretto’s study captures the emotional intensity and physical power that Michelangelo imbued in his original work. Michelangelo's figures often embody a sense of struggle. By studying and reinterpreting "Giorno," Tintoretto not only honed his technical skills but also engaged in a dialogue with the artistic ideals of his time. The emotional intensity captured in Tintoretto's chalk strokes reflects the profound impact of Michelangelo's work and invites us to contemplate the complexities of human existence.