Old Master Life Drawings

From earliest days; artists have sought to record the beauty; form; movement; and infinite variety of the human body. Among the most successful were the great masters of the various European traditions and schools of art. The extraordinary skill; inspiration; and technique they brought to figure drawing resulted in many masterpieces. This anthology; carefully reproduced from rare portfolios; presents over forty of those works; by artists ranging from the 15th century Italian Filippino Lippi to the 19th century French classicist; J. A. D. Ingres. Included are such highlights as a Michelangelo study for a dead Christ; two drawings of seated women by Rembrandt; a study by Rubens forDaniel in the Lions' Den; and splendid nudes by Tintoretto; Titian; Andrea del Sarto; Raphael; Pontormo; and other celebrated artists.The drawings included in this volume reveal differences in attitudes toward the nude figure and in artistic technique. Some masters; such as Tintoretto; use an agitated; almost calligraphic line; while others; such as Michelangelo; create the illusion of a smooth; undulating surface. The drawings are lessons in foreshortening; and in how to handle various media — ink; chalk; pencil; and charcoal.These and many more artistic insights; embodied in drawings of striking beauty; are yours to study and enjoy in this collection; available nowhere else at this price.