A Man Carrying An Older Man on His Back

Young Man Carrying an Old Man on His Back was produced by Raphael in 1514 and is in red chalk, typical of the artist's work at that time

Alongside Raphael's Nude Study, this drawing is amongst the Albertina's most revered, from an extensive collection of work from this artist. This Austrian gallery is one of the best locations for appreciating the work of Raphael in the world.

The Renaissance masters would use chalk drawings as a way of honing their anatomical accuracy and whilst these were study pieces they possess considerable artistic merit just on their own. There have been several exhibitions in recent years which have been devoted purely to the drawings of Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.

It is likely that Young Man Carrying an Old Man on His Back was a preparatory sketch for his upcoming fresco, The Fire in the Borgo. There were scenes of human kindness, with the vulnerable saved from an aggressive fire in Vatican City.

Raphael showed a delicacy in his drawings, particularly in his female portraits. Some have argued that this may have been influenced by the death of his mother. If you compare his style to that of Caravaggio, with paintings such as Judith Beheading Holofernes or John the Baptist, you will see a very different intensity. Personal taste then dictates which you prefer most, but no-one can deny the qualities of both artists.