Archers Shooting at a Herm, Triumph of Bacchus, and Other Studies n.d.

Michelangelo made this pen and brown ink drawing as a study sheet. It shows his interest in classical antiquity, reinterpreting it for his early 16th century Italian audience. The figures here appear to be studies for different projects he was working on in Florence and Rome. On the upper portion of the sheet is the Triumph of Bacchus, a Roman god of wine, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstasy. Below that we see archers shooting at a herm, a sculpture with a human head and a squared, pillar-like torso. The juxtaposition of these scenes from classical mythology speaks to the Renaissance humanist interest in reviving classical forms and subjects. Michelangelo was trained in drawing from antique sculpture in the Medici gardens. You can see how his deep knowledge of the classical canon informs his drawing style and subject matter. Careful art historical research into Michelangelo's biography, the history of Renaissance humanism, and the patronage system of the period can further illuminate our understanding of this drawing.