Head of Saint John the Baptist
1401
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1401
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a single figure’s head and shoulders against a deep blue background. The face is turned slightly to the side, with short, dark hair and a faint beard. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to suggest the shape of the head, adding white highlights to define the features. The dark blue paper and white strokes create a striking contrast, making the face stand out. This style was common in early Renaissance sketches. Look up the technique *metalpoint* next to see how artists made marks like these.
![Studies of a Woman and Her Dress [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/abf8075589814203/thumb.webp)
