This is one of the 'presentation drawings' produced by Michelangelo in the years around 1530 as highly finished works of art in their own right. While demonstrating the artist's extraordinarly skill at depicting the human figure in action, it illustrates the Neoplatonic idea that only actions guided by love can succeed. In the right foreground winged Cupid (love) sleeps, therefore the unguided archers miss their mark

The Royal Collection © 2005 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II