Study Models of Parts of the Body before 1570

Johan Gregor van der Schardt modeled this study of a human leg in the late Renaissance, likely around the 1570s, using terracotta. Terracotta is a low-fired ceramic, typically made from a fairly coarse clay. The inherent qualities of the material – its ready availability, ease of modeling, and relatively low cost – would have made it ideal for studies like this. Van der Schardt likely built this leg up gradually, adding coils and lumps of clay, refining the surface with tools to achieve a convincing level of anatomical detail. The resulting object would have been valued as a study aid, not necessarily as an artwork in its own right. The handwork involved, while skillful, would have been seen as more akin to craft than fine art. Yet, by focusing on the material and the making, we can see that this modest object occupies an important place in the history of both sculpture and scientific inquiry.