Around 1540, the Florentine sculptor Bandinelli established a small drawing academy in his home, where young artists were taught disegno (the concept of drawn design). In addition to human skeletons, models made of plaster, wax, or terracotta played a major role in drawing instruction. A small torso strongly resembling the modello by Van der Schardt on view here can be seen on the right of the mantelpiece.