Standing Male Nude Holding a Bow ("Poynter Apollo")

The influential German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer created the meticulously rendered study, Standing Male Nude Holding a Bow ("Poynter Apollo"), between 1501 and 1503. This significant drawing, executed primarily using pen and brown and black ink, is a crucial work demonstrating Dürer’s profound commitment to classical idealism blended with Northern European naturalism.

During the early 16th century, Dürer was deeply engaged in researching human proportion, heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance ideas concerning classical sculpture and anatomy, knowledge he gained during his travels south. This drawing is a critical example of his rigorous investigation into the perfect form of male nudes, serving as a preparatory study likely intended for a never-executed print or painting. The figure is posed dramatically, holding a bow and standing in a detailed contrapposto stance reminiscent of ancient Greek statuary, leading to its unofficial nickname, the "Poynter Apollo."

Dürer employs rapid, assured strokes of the pen to define the musculature and contour of the body, highlighting his masterful control over line work and volume. This intense focus on anatomical precision distinguishes the Standing Male Nude Holding a Bow ("Poynter Apollo") within Dürer’s broader oeuvre of graphic art. High-quality prints derived from the original drawing are widely circulated, attesting to the enduring scholarly interest in this work. This essential drawing remains a celebrated centerpiece of German Renaissance graphic arts in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.