A naked man (Ignudo), twisting towards the right, holding drapery, after Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' fresco in the Sistine Chapel 1580 - 1590

Cherubino Alberti created this print of a nude male figure after Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' in the Sistine Chapel. The figure, an Ignudo, forms part of the chapel's decorative scheme, framing the central religious narrative. Michelangelo's work was groundbreaking. He replaced traditional representations of the body and of religious themes with dynamic, muscular figures which were expressive and full of emotion. Alberti's print captures the physical power and emotional intensity of Michelangelo’s original. The figure's twisting pose conveys a sense of tension, as he glances over his shoulder. The print makes the artwork available to a wider audience. It reflects the cultural values of the time, as the male nude was a subject of admiration, and an expression of humanist ideals. Yet, it also participates in a complex negotiation of gender, power and religion. The image prompts us to consider the relationships between artist, model, and viewer, as well as the historical contexts that shape how we see and interpret the human form.