Two Nudes Seen from Below (recto); Male Figure with Upraised Arm (verso)

Art Historical Context

Cristoforo Roncalli, known as Pomarancio, was a prominent Italian Mannerist artist active in late 16th-century Rome Created around 1580–82, this double-sided red chalk drawing—*Two Nudes Seen from Below* on the recto and *Male Figure with Up Arm* on the versoshowcases his skill in anatomical studies. The dramatic foreshortening of the figures, viewed from a low angle, exemplifies Mannerist exaggeration and dynamism, departing from classical Renaissance ideals toward more expressive, elongated forms. Rendered in vibrant red chalk, a favored medium for its warm tones and blendability, the recto features a subtle squaring grid, indicating it was likely a preparatory study for a larger fresco or painting. Such techniques were essential for transferring designs to walls in grand ecclesiastical or palatial projects, common in Counter-Reformation Rome. The verso's isolated male figure with an upraised arm suggests ongoing exploration of pose and movement. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund in 1962), this 11 9/16 × 8 3/8 in. sheet offers a rare glimpse into an artist's workshop process. Male nude studies like these underscored the era's reverence for the human form as a vehicle for divine expression, blending technical virtuosity with spiritual aspiration.