Left Leg Écorgé
Wax Model
ca. 1550-ca. 1600 (made)
ca. 1550-ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This model in wax of a left leg écorgé is an anatomical study by an unknown artist made in Florence ca 1550.
It was formerly ascribed to Michelangelo and appeared to be a study for one of the legs of the Dead Christ supported on the lap of the Virgin, placed behind the high altar of the Cathedral of Florence. But the leg is also closely similar to the left leg of the dead Christ in the Pietà in St. Peter's in Rome.
The French word écorché literally means flayed or skinned. It has been adopted almost universally by scholars when speaking of a human figure stripped of its skin and thus displaying the superficial layers of muscles. Sculpted models or statuettes in which the muscles of the body are revealed (or écorchés) first appeared in sixteenth century Europe, and in Italy primarily.
It was formerly ascribed to Michelangelo and appeared to be a study for one of the legs of the Dead Christ supported on the lap of the Virgin, placed behind the high altar of the Cathedral of Florence. But the leg is also closely similar to the left leg of the dead Christ in the Pietà in St. Peter's in Rome.
The French word écorché literally means flayed or skinned. It has been adopted almost universally by scholars when speaking of a human figure stripped of its skin and thus displaying the superficial layers of muscles. Sculpted models or statuettes in which the muscles of the body are revealed (or écorchés) first appeared in sixteenth century Europe, and in Italy primarily.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Left Leg Écorgé (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Red wax |
Brief description | Red wax model of a left leg ecorche, an anatomical study, Italy (Florence), ca. 1550-1600 |
Physical description | Red wax model of a left leg écorché, an anatomical study, including part of the hip. The ankle and heel broken off and replaced. Broken through the knee. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Formerly in the Gherardini Collection of artists’ terracotta and wax models Acquired in 1854 |
Production | Formerly ascribed to Michelangelo |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This model in wax of a left leg écorgé is an anatomical study by an unknown artist made in Florence ca 1550. It was formerly ascribed to Michelangelo and appeared to be a study for one of the legs of the Dead Christ supported on the lap of the Virgin, placed behind the high altar of the Cathedral of Florence. But the leg is also closely similar to the left leg of the dead Christ in the Pietà in St. Peter's in Rome. The French word écorché literally means flayed or skinned. It has been adopted almost universally by scholars when speaking of a human figure stripped of its skin and thus displaying the superficial layers of muscles. Sculpted models or statuettes in which the muscles of the body are revealed (or écorchés) first appeared in sixteenth century Europe, and in Italy primarily. |
Associated objects | |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 4113-1854 |
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Record created | August 24, 2004 |
Record URL |
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