A study of a left arm from Michelangelo's Last Judgement.

This copy of the arm from one of the demons that are dragging damned souls into hell in the bottom right corner of the Last Judgement is modelled in red chalk. The character of the parallel hatching to model the musculature indicates that it was done rapidly, giving it a sketchy character.

This sheet is pasted to the same page of the album as RCIN 906894, both studies of arms are juxtaposed and suggest a comparative purpose in ordering the album. It also makes a direct comparison of the effects that different types of chalk could produce: the application of the red chalk is lighter than in his black chalk studies where Figino often smudged the lines to create a sense of volume.

The combination of smooth modelling and heavily muscled proportions emphasises the sculptural quality of the figure in Michelangelo’s fresco and suggest that Figino drew directly from the original rather than copying from reproductive prints. The structures of the arm are extremely faithful to the original that it is likely that he executed this study it in situ. It may also be the case that Figino had access to portions of Michelangelo's cartoons for the fresco.

For further studies of the Last Judgement by Figino in the Royal Collection see RCINs 906894, 906896, 906897, 906898, 906899, 906900, 906901, 906902, 906903, 906907, 906908, 906909, 906910, 906911, 906912, 906915, 906916, 906917 and 906918 and inv.nos. 1073, 1078, 1103, 1086, 1054, 1049, 1081, 1087, 1047, 1079, 1085, 988, 1099, 1095, 924, 1045, 1094, 923, 1088, 1069, 1098, 1070, 1084, 1066, 1029 at the Accademia in Venice.

Inscribed in pen at bottom left: N^o 24 Figino