Portrait of an Artist

About this work

This painting shows a man sitting at a desk, holding a quill pen in his right hand. He is dressed in dark clothing with a white ruffled collar and cuffs, and has short, curly hair. The background of the painting is dark, which makes the man's face and clothing stand out. The man's facial expression is serious, and he appears to be concentrating on his work. The painting is done in oil paint, which gives it a rich, textured look. The artist has used chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth. The painting is held at the Ashmolean Museum. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.