Study of a Left Leg

Ambrogio Figino (1548 - 1608) was one of the most important artists working in Milan during the second half of the 16th century, best known for his drawings. He was also a popular portrait painter of the nobility. The courtly style of his portraits was highly praised by his contemporaries. Despite his reputation in Milan, his career is poorly documented, and most of his documented portraits are untraced. This sketch is similar to another drawing by Figino, 'Study of a left leg' in Christ Church College, Oxford University (inv 0201). The Walker's drawing evokes in style and content (though not in size) some of the black and red chalk studies Figino made after anatomical drawings of humans and animals by Leonardo da Vinci, some of which he may have owned. Several of Figino's red chalk drawings after Leonardo can be found in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle and those in black chalk in the Gallerie dell' Accademia, Venice (inv939v). Figino's anatomical drawings appear to be scientific studies made for their own sake and not necessarily intended for use in a painting or print.