This sketch, titled “Arm of Lucretia,” is by Albrecht Dürer, an influential artist from the Northern Renaissance period. The artwork falls under the genre of sketch and study, demonstrating Dürer’s meticulous approach to capturing the human form and his mastery of depicting fine details.
The artwork itself is a study of an arm, presumably belonging to the figure of Lucretia, who is a historical figure from Roman mythology. The arm is positioned at an angle, and the hand is holding some sort of rod or staff, with tightened fingers as if exerting pressure or caught in an intense moment. The level of detail is remarkable, with painstaking attention given to the musculature, veins, and the play of light and shadow. The arm appears robust and tense, suggesting strength and perhaps a sense of desperation or determination, reflecting the tragic story of Lucretia in Roman lore. Dürer’s skill in rendering the textures of skin and the nuances of human anatomy is clearly visible here, making it both a study in light and form as well as a draft for a more complex composition.
