The artist's focus would always be on the muscular balance and in this artwork he would use black chalk, with lead-white gouache highlights in order to create a balance of strength and poise. There is a rough outline of a spear in his hand plus also the rest of his body is left incomplete.
This drawing can be found in the Albertina in Vienna, an impressive art institution that holds a fine collection of art across several different art movements. Many of the finest Michelangelo drawings have been studied and copied by other artists, looking to draw in this master's techniques and ideas.
It is particularly the anatomical accuracy that marked Michelangelo out during the Renaissance within this medium. This strength would also benefit his frescos and sculptures. This period of art was not dominated by landscape painting in the same way as we saw during the impressionist movement, instead focusing on religious themes and multi-figured compositions.
Red and black chalk were the two main tools for Michelangelo's drawings, though in some cases he would use several tones of the same colour in order to add further detail and precision to his portrait figures. Many Renaissance artists would use white touches with gouache in order to impress the idea of light upon the viewer's eyes and also draw out a further dimension to the muscular figures.
