Ph. Cl. A. de Thubières, Comte de Caylus
Jean-Baptiste André Gautier-Dagoty
1765
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Jean-Baptiste André Gautier-Dagoty
1765
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly white hair tied back. He’s wearing a high-collared coat, looking slightly to the side with a serious expression. The background is plain and dark, so the focus stays on his face and shoulders. The artist used shading to make the hair and fabric look textured. This was a common way to create depth in portraits back then. If you like this style, look up chiaroscuro next—it’s the technique of strong light and shadow.
