Drawings by Michelangelo and Raphael

Michelangelo and Raphael, in spite of their strongly contrasting characters, have many points of contact as draughtsmen. Looking to Leonardo, who had pioneered new techniques, they transformed the practice and status of drawing, using it to achieve the same expressive and affecting ends as painting or sculpture. Both artists raised technical mastery to new heights. In this selection from the Ashmolean Museum's famous collection, Catherine Whistler examines the technique and purpose of the drawings, and what they tell us about the artists' interests, development and working methods. Each picture is accompanied by a detailed commentary, and the whole volume provides an illuminating introduction to Renaissance drawing through the works of two of its greatest masters.