Giulio Romano Hermaphrodite as Caryatid ca. 1510-20 drawing Rijksmuseum |
The Twofold form Hermaphroditic; and the Double-sexed;
The Female-male & the Male-female, self-dividing stood
Before him in their beauty, & in cruelties of holiness!
Shining in darkness, glorious upon the deeps of Entuthon.
– from William Blake's long poem Milton (written 1800-1804; engraved 1809-1810)
Amico Aspertini Figure with drapery ca. 1535-40 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Biagio Pupini Frieze with scene of the bathing of a child ca. 1540 drawing British Museum |
Biagio Pupini Blessing scene ca. 1540 drawing British Museum |
Biagio Pupini Groups of figures ca. 1540 drawing British Museum |
Perino del Vaga Lady at the Virginals 16th century drawing Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
When hope did live within my breast
No winter storm could kill desire,
But now disdain hath hope oppressed
Dead is the root, dead is the spire.
Hope was the root, the spire was love,
No sap beneath, no life above.
– Anonymous English poet (1602) from The New Oxford Book of Sixteenth-Century Verse, chosen and edited by Emrys Jones (Oxford University Press, 1991)
Pellegrino Pellegrini Seated figure 16th century drawing Morgan Library, New York |
Pellegrino Pellegrini Barbarian captives ca. 1548-49 drawing Morgan Library, New York |
Jacopo da Pontormo Mourning Virgin 16th century drawing British Museum |
Jacopo da Pontormo Design for a wall decoration 16th century drawing British Museum |
Jacopo da Pontormo Figure study ca. 1522-25 drawing British Museum |
Camillo Procaccini Two heads 16th century drawing Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
Rosso Fiorentino Recumbent woman 1530s drawing British Museum |
Rosso Fiorentino Standing prophet ca. 1529 drawing British Museum |