DISCOVERART

Domenico Beccafumi

Three Male Nudes

c. 1540–47
black chalk or charcoal with brush and black chalk or charcoal wash, heightened with white gouache; incised

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Domenico Beccafumi was intensely aware of the work of his contemporary Michelangelo when he developed his own style for projects in Siena, south of Florence. This drawing is a study for a chiaroscuro print, a type of woodblock print using several blocks, some colored, to create light and shadow. The drawing features three male nudes whose roles are unknown. The closest figure, reclining with his back toward the viewer, recalls ancient sculptures of river gods as well as works by Michelangelo, including the reclining figures he sculpted for the Medici tombs in Florence.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Domenico Beccafumi

Saint MatthewSaint MatthewStudy of Drapery (Probably After the Antique)Study of Drapery (Probably After the Antique)Study of Drapery (Probably After the Antique)Study of Drapery (Probably After the Antique)Saint MarkSaint MarkSaint PeterSaint PeterHercules, Standing with a ClubHercules, Standing with a ClubSaint PeterSaint PeterSaint PhilipSaint Philip

More like this

The Reclining Headless Body of Holofernes; Study of Female Semi-Nude Figure (on a small separate, unrelated sheet of blue paper, pasted onto the lower left of the large sheet)Guido Reni — The Reclining Headless Body of Holofernes; StudStudy after Michelangelo's Giorno (recto and verso)Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) — Study after MichelangelReclining Nude Figure (recto); unidentifiable sketches (verso)Antoine Watteau — Reclining Nude Figure (recto); unidentifiaVirgin of the Immaculate Conception Standing on CloudsAnonymous, Spanish, School of Seville, 17th century|Pedro DSleeping FigureUnknown artist — Sleeping FigureAngel Holding a BanderoleCharles Joseph Natoire — Angel Holding a BanderoleNude FigureAlfred George Stevens — Nude FigureTwo Studies of a Seated Male Nude Seen from the BackCherubino Alberti (Zaccaria Mattia) — Two Studies of a SeateSeated Old Man with Right Arm Upraised (Tithonus) (recto); Seated Nude Youth (figure of Day) (verso)Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) — Seated Old Man withThree Studies of Seated Nude Male with Raised Arm, Seen from Below.Anonymous, Italian, Bolognese, 17th century — Three Studies Reclining Woman Leaning on Her Arm (verso)Honoré Daumier (French, 1808–1879) — Reclining Woman LeaningNymph and SatyrFollower of Luca Cambiaso — Nymph and Satyr