Antique Bearded Head
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a close-up of a bearded man’s face. His hair and beard are thick and wavy, drawn with careful lines. The face looks calm but serious, with a slight frown. The shading is soft, mostly in shades of gray. The artist used ink and wash to create smooth, flowing lines for the hair. This style was common in the Romantic period, which loved dramatic and expressive forms. Next, check out Flaxman, John to see more of his work.
