Michelangelo's Mourning Woman: The rediscovery and investigation of a forgotten drawing

Abstract

Summary This paper describes the discovery of, and subsequent investigations into, a previously unknown Michelangelo drawing found in an album at Castle Howard, Yorkshire, England. The probable origin of the drawing is discussed through comparison with other works by the young Michelangelo and his circle. The composite laminated structure of the drawing and its eighteenth-century collector's mount are described in detail, together with an analysis of the constituent papers. Conservation treatment, including temporary separation of the drawing from its mount, is covered. The great similarity in the manner of drawing between this and other works by Michelangelo, together with the provenance and the paper evidence have led to this work being accepted as an important new addition to Michelangelo's oeuvre. This investigation of a complex paper object is presented as an excellent illustration of the productive collaboration between specialists in three different disciplines: art history, paper history, and paper conservation.