Putto Poised on Right Leg (recto); Sketch of a Draped Arm (verso) 1575 - 1600

Domenico Cresti, known as Il Passignano, rendered this drawing, "Putto Poised on Right Leg," using red chalk. Cresti lived during a period of artistic transition, influenced by the late Renaissance and foreshadowing the Baroque. During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Catholic Church was a dominant force in art. Cresti's putto, or cherubic figure, reflects this influence. Representations of the nude male form in Renaissance art were often an expression of idealized beauty and divine perfection. However, it is worth considering how the male nude carries different meanings depending on who is looking. While Cresti’s drawing adheres to traditional representations, it also encourages a dialogue about beauty standards and representation. The putto invites us to consider the historical and cultural values that shape how we perceive and interpret the human body.