Nude Study for the Figure of Christ in "Saint Peter Receiving the Keys" c. 1597 - 1601

Editor: This is Domenico Tintoretto's "Nude Study for the Figure of Christ in 'Saint Peter Receiving the Keys.'" It's a drawing, roughly 11 by 6 inches, at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by the dynamism of the figure, even in this preparatory sketch. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The emphasis is clearly on line and form. Note the artist's use of hatching to model the musculature. Observe, too, how the contours articulate the figure's implied motion. How do these formal choices contribute to the figure's sense of weight and presence? Editor: I see that now, especially in the legs. It’s like he's capturing a fleeting moment. Thanks, that really helps! Curator: Indeed. Close observation of formal elements reveals the artist's skill in conveying both physical and implied movement.