Various Sketches of Nude Figures c. 16th century

Editor: This sheet of sketches by Raffaele da Montelupo features various nude figures in red chalk. They look like preparatory drawings. What can you tell me about the role of these figures, or drawings like these, in the artistic and cultural context of the time? Curator: Montelupo, born in 1505, was active during a period when the male nude became a powerful symbol of virtue and civic duty. Are these figures idealized, or do they reflect a broader interest in the representation of the human form within the social and political discourse of Renaissance Florence? Editor: I see your point. They do seem quite idealized. Thank you! Curator: Of course. Examining art through the lens of its time provides invaluable context.