Upraised Right Hand, with Palm Facing Outward: Study for Saint Peter

Upraised Right Hand, with Palm Facing Outward: Study for Saint Peter by Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520, is a masterful example of High Renaissance draftsmanship. This drawing, created late in the artist’s career (1518-1520), is a preparatory study detailing a specific gesture vital for a larger composition. Raphael executed the work primarily in black chalk, a medium that allowed him nuanced control over shading and form. He extensively heightened the drawing with white chalk and lead white pigment, applied over underlying stylus underdrawing used to map the initial contours. The contrasting chalks effectively define the musculature, bone structure, and vein definition of the hand with striking precision, suggesting light falling dramatically from the upper left and giving the study remarkable dimensionality.

This focused preparatory piece likely served as a modello for a major fresco or altarpiece depicting Saint Peter, whose iconography frequently involves the powerful gesture of an upraised hand, often signifying blessing, declaration, or divine authority. The meticulous attention paid to this singular anatomical detail underscores Raphael's dedication to expressive accuracy in his figures. While the artist was creating this work in Italy during the height of the Renaissance, the technical skill demonstrated here provides vital insight into the preparatory process for his most complex religious commissions. This historically significant piece resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a landmark work of the period, high-quality prints and reproductions are frequently made available through public domain collections for educational purposes and scholarly study.