Nude Study

This drawing features two muscular male figures in dynamic poses, with one figure seen from behind gesturing outward and another leaning on a staff. A faint, disembodied face is sketched between the two primary figures, showing Raphael's focus on muscle tension and skeletal structure. A block of German text is inscribed on the right side of the paper, documenting the history of the sheet.

This work documents the intellectual exchange between Raphael and Albrecht Dürer, representing the Renaissance project of anatomical study as a branch of natural philosophy. It reflects the Neoplatonic belief that the human body is a microcosm of divine order, requiring precise observation to reveal its inherent mathematical and physical truths.