Bust of a Youth Looking Upward [recto] c. 1500

Luca Signorelli rendered this drawing, "Bust of a Youth Looking Upward," with black chalk on paper during the Renaissance. The youth's upward gaze, rendered with soft, flowing lines, evokes a sense of longing or divine inspiration. The chiaroscuro effect, achieved through delicate shading, accentuates the subtle contours of his face and musculature. Signorelli's mastery of anatomy is evident in the precise rendering of the youth's chest and neck, which conveys a sense of classical idealism. The upward direction of the gaze, coupled with the soft light, suggests a connection between the earthly and the celestial realms, echoing Renaissance humanism. The figure appears to be in contemplation, his gaze directed towards an unseen source of enlightenment. The sketch-like quality of the drawing reveals Signorelli's process of artistic exploration, inviting viewers to contemplate the nature of beauty, spirituality, and the human form.