Who painted Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] was painted by Perino del Vaga in 1535.

Where can I see Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Figure Studies [recto]

Perino del Vaga , 1535

Figure Studies [recto] is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Perino del Vaga. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1535, this drawing by Perino del Vaga—an Italian artist active in the late‑Renaissance and Mannerist circles—consists of a series of figure sketches rendered in pen and brown ink on laid paper. The work is a compact sheet of yellowed, worn paper bearing multiple studies of human forms in varied poses.

Subject & Meaning

The sheet presents a range of bodily positions: standing, seated, and reclined figures rendered with minimal detailing. The simplicity of line suggests the images served as preparatory studies, allowing the artist to explore anatomy, gesture, and composition before committing to a larger, finished piece.

Technique & Style

Executed with pen and brown ink, the drawings employ varied line weight and cross‑hatching to suggest volume and surface texture. The loose, fluid strokes are characteristic of Perino’s draftsmanship, reflecting the Mannerist interest in expressive, exaggerated poses rather than strict naturalism.

History & Provenance

The paper’s aged, yellowed appearance indicates the sheet has survived nearly five centuries. While the exact ownership trail is unclear, the drawing is attributed to Perino del Vaga based on stylistic analysis and comparison with his documented studies from the 1530s.

Context

During the mid‑16th century, Italian artists frequently produced figure studies to refine ideas for altarpieces, frescoes, or sculptural programs. Perino, a pupil of Raphael and later a court artist in Genoa, used such sketches to experiment with the elongated, dynamic forms favored by Mannerist aesthetics.

Artist & collection

Artist

Perino del Vaga

Piero Bonaccorsi (1501 – October 19, 1547), known as Perino (or Perin) del Vaga, was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Late Renaissance/Mannerism.