Artwork
Portrait of a Young Man
Portrait of a Young Man is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1615, this drawing is attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It presents a young male figure rendered in profile, his head turned slightly toward the viewer, offering a concise study of youthful features.
Technique & Style
Executed with black and red chalk, the artist adds white chalk to accentuate the cheekbone, forehead, and other planes, producing a clear contrast of light and shadow. The line work is precise yet fluid, conveying a sense of immediacy in the portrait’s surface.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to a limited group of Bernini’s surviving drawings, as the majority of his output consists of sculpture. Its rarity underscores its value for scholars tracing the sculptor’s early practice on paper.
Context
At the time of its creation, Bernini was emerging as a leading figure in Roman Baroque art. This drawing reflects his interest in anatomical observation and the study of form, preparatory habits that would later inform his monumental sculptural commissions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gian Lorenzo Bernini turned marble into living skin. Born in Naples but raised in Rome, he grew up in the orbit of popes and cardinals who needed their images carved into eternity. He learned the tricks early—how light…
