study of a head
1850
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows a side view of a person’s head wrapped in a turban. The lines are loose and quick, with shading that makes the face look three-dimensional. The artist focused on the shape of the head, ears, and neck, leaving the background plain. The print is labeled as a study for a larger project—likely a figure in the Sistine Chapel. The artist used simple lines and shading to capture the person’s features without much detail. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this shading technique works in other art.
![Head of a Man [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d6e68ba78da40efa/thumb.webp)
