Reclining male nude 1601 - 1661

Francesco Montelatici made this drawing of a reclining male nude with red chalk sometime in the 17th century. Chalk is a relatively direct medium, allowing for a close relationship between the hand, the eye, and the emerging image. Consider the qualities of line in the drawing, varying from light sketch to darker contour. These differences aren't just about the figure represented; they also speak to the artist's process. Montelatici is thinking as he goes, using the chalk to feel his way into the subject. This kind of drawing was often made in preparation for a painting or sculpture. The artist is working out the pose, the musculature, the fall of light and shadow. While we might see the drawing as a finished work of art, it is also a document of artistic labor. It shows the artist’s active engagement with the material and the subject, a process of discovery as much as representation. Looking closely at the drawing, we appreciate it as both a record and an achievement.