Head of a Roman Emperor

1480

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a dark, swirling face pressed into a dull metal background. The lines are rough, like scratched grooves, and the features—eyes, nose, and mouth—are barely defined. The hair curls outward in thick, tangled strands, almost like smoke or waves. The technique here uses deep black against a flat surface, creating a stark contrast. This kind of print, called niello, was often used for small, detailed portraits in the Renaissance. Next, check out the technique: niello to see how artists made these striking metal prints.