Artwork
Head of a fiend
Head of a fiend is a drawing by Johnston Forbes-Robertson. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1850, the drawing titled Head of a Fiend is a study in profile that resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Executed in pen and ink, the work captures a single, expressive head with an emphasis on gesture and texture rather than finished detail, reflecting the artist’s exploratory approach.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a side view of a face framed by disheveled, tangled hair. The eyes are rendered with a sharp, alert line, while the mouth is slightly ajar, suggesting a moment of speech or surprise. The exaggerated, almost grotesque features hint at a character meant to convey heightened emotion or a fantastical persona.
Technique & Style
The drawing relies on rapid, overlapping strokes to model form, especially in the hair where dense cross‑hatching builds shadow and volume. Loose, sketchy lines dominate the composition, giving the piece a spontaneous, unfinished quality typical of preparatory studies. The use of layered lines demonstrates how tonal variation is achieved without shading washes.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the British artist Forbes‑Robertson, the work dates to the mid‑nineteenth century, a period when the artist produced numerous figure studies. It entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection as part of its holdings of 19th‑century drawings, where it remains accessible for research and public display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Forbes-Robertson spent his life dodging the spotlight, unless it was trained on him on stage.
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