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Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe drawing shows a muscular man in a dynamic pose, twisting his torso to look back over his right shoulder as he steps forward. Fine cross-hatched lines define the muscles of the back, legs, and arms, showing a careful study of human anatomy. A large, separate sketch of a hand is positioned to the right, showing the back of the hand and fingers in a relaxed or slightly gripping gesture.
This work is part of Raphael's preparatory process for the Vatican Stanze, where he visually synthesized Neoplatonic philosophy with Christian theology. The focus on anatomical precision reflects the Renaissance belief in the human body as a microcosm, a 'minor mundus' that reveals the mathematical and spiritual order of the universe.
COLLECTIO R. PAYNE KNIGHT Pp. 1. No 75.
Translation
Collection of R. Payne Knight Pp. 1. Number 75.
Pico della Mirandola
The artist’s focus on the beauty and movement of the human form mirrors Pico’s 'Oration on the Dignity of Man,' which posits humanity as the centerpiece of the created world.
Marsilio Ficino
Raphael's anatomical studies embody the Neoplatonic ideal of the human body as a reflection of divine proportion as theorized by Ficino.
Object
Oil on panel
anatomical
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?agent=Raphael&technique=drawn&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1
1811 × 2500 px
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.