RibCages

Michelangelo Mersi da Caravaggio

Deposition

Oil on Canvas

cm. 300x203

1602-04

The structure of the ribcage is evident in Caravaggio's oil painting. It's easy to view the form under the skin as Christ's withered and frail build clings to the ribcage underneath. Here I really got an idea of the openings at the stomach and neck. I need to incorporate this shape however, my drawings are always sticking to a purely oval shape. 

Rosso Fiorentino

Moses defending the Daughters of Jethro

Oil on Canvas

cm 160x117

 1523-24

This was a bit more difficult of a position to trace, as the head is covering most of the back portion of the ribcage. This was not a helpful drawing for me because I don't think I traced the opening right, but i'll need to look at a few more foreshortened drawings to really grasp this shape. The cartilage is seen protruding from the figure laying on the ground, and the sternum follows the center of the chest, but almost disappears behind the head. 

Agnolo Bronzino

Moses striking Water from the Rock and the Collection of Manna (right panel)

Fresco on wall

cm. 320-160

1540-45

This muscular figure presents a good foundation for the rigidity of the ribcage. The lumbar spinal curve is very flexible in comparison to the thorasic, and you can see how the ribcage can become tilted and skewed while it rests on the flexible spinal column, and the subtle elegance this flexibility can create in the human form.

Sources:

The Library of Great Masters (Caravaggio, Bronzino, Pontormo Rosso Fiorentino)

SCALA, Instituto Fotigrafico 1984, 1994, 1996.