The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Two Studies of a Man

Santi di Tito Italian

ca. 1575

Not on view

A pupil of Bronzino and Alessandro Allori, Santi di Tito was among the founders in 1563 of the Florentine Accademia del Disegno (the Academy of Drawing). He had a leading role among the generation of late-sixteenth-century Tuscan painters who turned to the practice of carefully observed life drawing to direct their pictorial language away from an abstract Mannerist vocabulary and toward one of greater naturalism. Of great psychological presence, the figure of the balding, bearded man with a flaccid torso in this life study is portrayed with uncompromising veracity. The artist played the softly blended chalk against the white of the paper to create a delicate luminous effect. The naturalistic vocabulary of the figure is reminiscent of Santi di Tito's Resurrection altarpiece in Santa Croce, Florence of 1573–74, and The Supper at Emaus of 1574.

Two Studies of a Man, Santi di Tito (Italian, Sansepolcro 1536–1603 Florence), Black chalk (recto); rulings in red chalk and black chalk by early collector (verso) — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Two Studies of a Man, Santi di Tito (Italian, Sansepolcro 1536–1603 Florence), Black chalk (recto); rulings in red chalk and black chalk by early collector (verso)

Two Studies of a Man, Santi di Tito (Italian, Sansepolcro 1536–1603 Florence), Black chalk (recto); rulings in red chalk and black chalk by early collector (verso)

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Title: Two Studies of a Man

Artist: Santi di Tito (Italian, Sansepolcro 1536–1603 Florence)

Date: ca. 1575

Medium: Black chalk (recto); rulings in red chalk and black chalk by early collector (verso)

Dimensions: sheet: 13 3/4 x 6 7/8 in. (35 x 17.5 cm)

Classification: Drawings

Credit Line: Purchase, Guy Wildenstein Gift, 2002

Accession Number: 2002.72

How Chalk Drawings are Made

How Chalk Drawings are Made

An illustrated explainer.

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

The Met

Drawings and Prints at The Met

The Met's collection of drawings and prints—one of the most comprehensive and distinguished of its kind in the world—began with a gift of 670 works from Cornelius Vanderbilt, a Museum trustee, in 1880.