Standing Male Figure with a Scroll

The Standing Male Figure with a Scroll by the Circle of Andrea Mantegna is an outstanding example of Italian Renaissance drawing, executed in pen and dark brown ink between 1500 and 1506. This piece belongs to a pivotal moment in art history, demonstrating the transition from the detailed, rigorous style of the Quattrocento to the emerging monumentality of the High Renaissance. The technique employed uses precise, vigorous parallel and cross-hatching to define form and suggest volume, a method deeply rooted in the graphic conventions established by Mantegna himself.

The composition features a single male figure standing in contrapposto, conveying dignity and sculptural stability. The man holds a large, unfurled scroll, an attribute that suggests his identity as a scholar, philosopher, or prophet, linking the work conceptually to classical antiquity, a major preoccupation of the Mantuan court. The masterful rendering of the drapery, which falls in sharp, broken folds, emphasizes the figure’s underlying anatomy and echoes the influence of antique statuary frequently studied by the master and his circle.

As a significant drawing focused on the study of men and classical proportion, this piece provides valuable insight into the preparatory stages of major early 16th-century works. The artwork is classified as a drawing and is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the antiquity of this Renaissance masterpiece, the imagery is often available as high-resolution prints through public domain initiatives, enabling widespread appreciation and scholarly access to the exceptional skill of the artists working under the influence of Mantegna.