Male Figure Seen from Rear, after a drawing by Michelangelo

"Male Figure Seen from Rear, after a drawing by Michelangelo," executed by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi), is a pivotal example of Renaissance anatomical study and inter-artist homage. Created sometime between 1508 and 1600, the work utilizes pen and brown ink on brown paper, a characteristic technique for preliminary studies of the period. This classification as a drawing indicates its function as an academic exercise or copy, demonstrating Raphael's method of absorbing and reinterpreting the mastery of his contemporaries, particularly Michelangelo, whose sculptural treatment of the human form profoundly influenced High Renaissance ideals.

The focus of the piece is an intensely observed Male Nudes figure posed dynamically, seen entirely from the rear. The artist meticulously defines the contrapposto stance, emphasizing the musculature of the back, shoulders, and legs. Raphael employs precise, economical line work, using the brown ink to articulate volume and shadow across the figure's powerful form. This detailed rendering highlights the artist’s commitment to mastering anatomy, an essential skill for securing major commissions in Rome during this highly competitive era. Although based on a design by Michelangelo, Raphael’s interpretation lends his own distinct grace and refinement to the underlying dramatic structure.

This historically significant sheet is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. As a vital record of Renaissance artistic training, the piece continues to inform scholarly research into the working relationship between the period’s titans. Due to its age and importance, the drawing has entered the public domain, making high-quality prints and reproductions of this foundational study available to a wider audience.