Figure of Christ 1500 - 1600

This anonymous 16th-century drawing depicts a life-size figure of Christ, rendered in brown ink and wash. The figure stands in a contrapposto pose, with one hand on his chest and the other resting on a cross, alluding to his sacrifice. The detailed treatment of the figure's musculature and the dramatic composition suggest a study for a larger painting, perhaps an altarpiece. The drawing's small size, however, suggests its use as a personal devotional work. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art speaks to its quality and importance within the history of Renaissance art.