Raffaello - Studien für den Bethlehemitischen Kindermord, 188r

This drawing consists of four separate figure studies used to plan a larger composition. On the left, a muscular man is captured in the act of striking while a woman turns away in a defensive pose; on the right, the artist focuses on the powerful musculature of a pair of legs in motion and a twisted upper body. The red chalk captures the tension and physical strain of the figures through precise lines and soft shading.

These studies reflect the Renaissance principle of 'disegno,' where the meticulous study of human anatomy was used to express the divine order and the inner movements of the soul. This approach was heavily influenced by Neoplatonism, which viewed the human body as a microcosm of the universe's mathematical and aesthetic harmony.