Head of Saint John the Baptist

About this work

This sketch shows a bearded face in profile, looking down and to the left. The hair and beard are drawn in quick, swirling lines that fill the whole page. The paper is light-colored, and the lines are dark, making the curls stand out sharply. The artist used only black chalk on two pieces of paper taped together. The date "1516" is written in the corner, and the initials "HGB" might stand for the artist’s name. Next, check out the Renaissance to see how artists like this one changed European art.