Artwork
Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward
Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
The painting Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward is attributed to the workshop of Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci, known as Perugino, and dated to 1498.
The painting Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward is attributed to the workshop of Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci, known as Perugino, and dated to 1498.
The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Robert Lehman Collection. Its dimensions are 22.6 cm in height and 15.1 cm in width.
The Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work was originally owned by Robert Lehman before entering the museum's holdings. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the painting is cataloged under the description of a work by the Workshop of Perugino depicting a human head.
The piece has been associated with the museum's collection since at least the time of the Lehman acquisition, though specific exhibition dates or a detailed public showing history are not documented in the provided sources.
Overview
Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward is a preparatory drawing depicting a young individual looking upwards. Executed in soft pencil or charcoal, this work appears to be an artistic exercise rather than a finished piece. The artist focused on capturing the subtle contours of the face and the interplay of light, suggesting an exploration of form and expression.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs soft pencil or charcoal, allowing for delicate transitions in tone that define the facial features. The artist rendered the eyes, nose, and mouth with careful attention, while the hair and neck are depicted with looser, more rapid strokes. The paper itself shows signs of age and use, with torn, yellowed edges and faint fold lines, further indicating its function as an informal study. This approach likely explored how light illuminates different textures and planes of the human form.
Artist & collection
![Bust of a Youth Looking Upward [recto], by Luca Signorelli](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/luca-signorelli--bust-of-a-youth-looking-upward-recto--98d5b40adccc490b-w320.webp)
