From the Renaissance onwards artists frequently drew studies from clay or plaster figurines representing the human body with the skin removed to display the muscles. Ecorché, is a French term meaning 'skinned', is applied both to the figurine and to the drawing made from it. Russell, was primarily a portrait artist, he reveals here an ability and an understanding of human anatomy which is notable. The sketchbook contains many other similar studies which the artist made presumably for his own information and as reference material.