Study Models of Parts of the Body c. 1560 - 1570

This study model of a male torso was made by Johan Gregor van der Schardt in the 16th century. Its function was likely for the education of artists within a workshop environment. During the Renaissance, the study of the human body became central to artistic training. The revival of classical ideals led artists to seek a deeper understanding of anatomy and proportion. This wasn't merely an aesthetic pursuit; it was intertwined with the period’s broader intellectual project. The rediscovery of classical texts, coupled with scientific inquiry, fueled a desire to comprehend the natural world. Artists turned to anatomical studies, dissecting cadavers and producing detailed drawings, and sculptures like this one, to inform their work. Here at the Rijksmuseum, you can study other artworks that tell the story of the period’s artistic and intellectual life. Looking closely at the museums' archives, and comparing the statue to contemporary treatises, we can piece together how art schools operated at this time. This process helps us to appreciate the statue in its full cultural context.