Alfred Lord Tennyson
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows an older man with a long white beard and curly gray hair. He’s wearing a loose, high-collared shirt and looks like he’s resting his head on his hand. The lines are soft but detailed, especially around his face and beard. The artist used shading to make the man’s face look three-dimensional, focusing on the light hitting his cheek and forehead. This was a common way to draw portraits back then. Check out chiaroscuro for more on how shading creates depth in art.
