A Smiling Boy with Flowing Hair

A Smiling Boy with Flowing Hair

Italian 17th Century

1700

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a boy’s face with a soft smile, his eyes half-lidded. His hair falls in loose curls over his shoulders, drawn quickly in red chalk. The lines are light but confident, leaving some paper rough and textured. The artist focused on the boy’s gentle expression and flowing hair, skipping details like clothing or background. This style was common in quick studies back then. Next, check out Baroque for more dramatic, expressive portraits like this one.

More by Italian 17th Century

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app