MAERTEN VAN HEEMSKERCK (CIRCLE OF)

(Heemskerck 1498-1574 Haarlem) Study of a Male Torso and Legs. Pen and brown ink on thin cream laid paper. 196x122 mm; 7x4 inches. Annotated by an early hand in Latin and Dutch in ink, verso. Trefoil watermark (probably the upper part of a larger French or Netherlandish mark). The current drawing appears to copy part or a fragment of a sculpture. The lack of a loin cloth suggests antique sculpture, such as the lower part of a hanging Marsyas, rather than a crucifix.