Sir Francis Bacon
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1621
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man with a thick beard and a wide-brimmed hat. He’s wearing a fur collar and holding a book or paper in his hands. Above his head is a coat of arms with a shield and two small figures standing on it. The edges of the picture are decorated with swirling lines and tiny details. The text at the bottom names the man as "Sir Francis Bacon" and says he died in 1626 at age 66. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, which makes the portrait look detailed even though it’s just ink on paper. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists create images with just lines and shading.
