Study for a “Holy Family with the Infant St.John” (1534; Rome, Italy) by Michelangelo

The artwork titled “Study for a ‘Holy Family with the Infant St.John’” is attributed to the renowned artist Michelangelo, created in the year 1534 while he resided in Rome, Italy. Michelangelo’s choice of medium was chalk on paper, and this artwork exemplifies the Mannerism art movement, a period that showcases a progression from the harmonious ideals of the High Renaissance to a more expressive and artificial elegance. The physical dimensions of the work are modest, measuring at 31.7 cm by 19.1 cm. The genre of this piece is categorized as a sketch and study, which served as a preparatory work for a larger composition. The artwork is currently housed as part of the prestigious collection at the British Museum in London, the United Kingdom.

In the artwork, the mastery of Michelangelo’s drafting skills is clearly exhibited. The artwork appears to depict a muscular, seated figure, displaying a keen attention to anatomical precision and the play of light and shadow on the human form, which was customary in Michelangelo’s work. The artist’s hatching technique creates a sense of volume and depth, contributing to the overall sense of three-dimensionality. The position of the figure, the limbs’ articulation, and the turn of the head give insights into how Michelangelo was exploring different poses and arrangements for the more refined composition that would follow. Despite its unfinished state, the study harbors a beautiful intensity and a testament to Michelangelo’s exceptional ability to convey a sense of life and dynamic movement in his figures.