River God (Tigris), sketch (recto) blank (verso) 1500 - 1560

"River God (Tigris)" is a delicate pencil sketch depicting a river god reclining in a relaxed pose. This anonymous work is a study for a larger composition, executed in the sixteenth century and currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The artist's fine lines render the god's muscular form with a sense of classical restraint, highlighting the figure's anatomy and drapery. The sketch likely served as a preliminary study for a more elaborate painting or sculpture, highlighting the creative process of Renaissance artists.