Half Figure of a Youth with Outstretched Left Arm and Bowed Head (recto); Two Women, One Holding a Vase, the Other a Book, and a Seated Man (verso) 1554 - 1561

This red chalk drawing by the Italian artist Battista Franco, created between 1554 and 1561, showcases a study of the human figure. The drawing, titled "Half Figure of a Youth with Outstretched Left Arm and Bowed Head (recto); Two Women, One Holding a Vase, the Other a Book, and a Seated Man (verso)," depicts a young man in a dynamic pose, with his left arm extended and his head bowed. The artist's emphasis on anatomical detail and the use of light and shadow suggest a study for a larger work, perhaps a fresco or a painting. This piece is a testament to Franco's mastery of drawing and his interest in the study of human anatomy, a defining characteristic of the High Renaissance. It is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.