Study after Michelangelo's St Matthew

A bearded man is depicted with his body twisted in a powerful, straining motion, his head turned sharply over his shoulder. He wears a heavy, classical tunic gathered at the waist that emphasizes the underlying muscular structure of his torso and legs. The drawing uses rhythmic hatching and fine lines to capture the play of light across the figure's active, tensed form.

This work demonstrates Raphael's engagement with the 'heroic' style of Michelangelo during his years in Florence. The anatomical intensity reflects the Renaissance Neoplatonic concept of the human body as a microcosm, where physical tension serves as an outward manifestation of the internal spiritual struggle and divine inspiration.