Source Image: PR670_05_20 of Michelangelo's Florentine Pieta of Florence: Miscellaneous Renaissance Sculpture

In contrast to a methodical approach which might involve working the entire statue to the same level of finish before starting the next refining process, Michelangelo has, in this example, several different stages of carving from rough to more finished present. In this example, there are various levels of refinement with the tooth chisel. On the underside of the thumb you can see where Michelangelo decided to move the thumb during a refinement stage.