Francis Bacon

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows a serious-looking man in fancy clothes. He’s wearing a big hat, a fur-lined coat, and a chain around his neck. One hand holds a quill, and the other rests on an open book with a magnifying glass nearby. Behind him, a curtain and a coat of arms add detail. The tiny lines crisscrossing the whole image create the shading—this is called cross-hatching. It’s a way to make shadows and textures without color. Check out how artists used engraving to make detailed portraits like this.