Old Man Wearing a Turban Ornamented with Fur, Facing Right
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a side view of an older man with a thick beard and wild hair. His turban is wrapped tight, with fur trim that looks fluffy and detailed. The lines are scratchy, almost like quick strokes, giving the whole image a textured, busy feel. The paper has a rough, aged look, and there’s writing in the top corner—maybe the artist’s notes. This style of drawing was often used to study faces and expressions closely. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made prints with sharp, layered lines.
