Nicholai Culpeper, Equitus

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in a long coat with a high collar. His curly hair and mustache are detailed, and he wears a star-shaped pin on his chest. Above his head is a small shield with a lion on it. The text below calls him "Nicholai Culpeper Equitus" and jokes that his face is just a "case" for his smart mind. The lines in the picture are made by tiny shadows—this is how the artist filled in details. Look up cross-hatching to see how this shading trick works.