Extremely beautiful as the Adonis undoubtedly is, the strained, distorted attitude seems to require some explanation.

That might have been given by the trampling form and robes of a Genius.

Still it is difficult to comprehend why the left arm and hand, finished, I feel almost sure, by Michelangelo, should have been so carefully executed.

The Genius, if draped, would have hidden nearly the whole of that part of the statue.
The face of this Adonis displays exactly the same type as that of the so-called Victory and of Giuliano de' Medici.

Here the type assumes singular loveliness..