A boy lifting a load up to a man, two further men standing nearby, ca. 1597 – ca. 1599

About the Work

The sheet presents a charming combination of two pairs of figures, one drawn from life, the other copied. The lines describing the boy seen from the back are the most energetic. The drawing vividly conveys the effort demanded of him by the heavy bundle. Corrections in his face and right foot reinforce the sense of strain. The two bearded men at the right—who seem at first sight to be looking on—go back to a classical sculpture type.