Portrait of Vittoria Colonna 1540

This is Michelangelo’s portrait of Vittoria Colonna, housed at the British Museum, executed in black chalk, a medium allowing for delicate tonal gradations. The drawing captures Colonna with a striking blend of softness and structural integrity. Notice how the lines are not merely outlines but build form, volume, and texture. The hatching defines the contours of her face and clothing, creating depth. Look at the geometric shapes of her dress, which contrast with the organic flow of the lines sketching her face and headdress. Michelangelo uses line and shading to explore the interplay between the corporeal and the spiritual. The work moves beyond conventional portraiture by emphasizing the underlying geometry and dynamic tension, thereby revealing the intellectual rigor which Michelangelo invested in the simple act of portraiture. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to consider how form can convey not just physical likeness but also the profound intellectual and spiritual qualities which Michelangelo saw in Vittoria Colonna.