Who painted Study of the head of St. Michael?

Study of the head of St. Michael was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1778.

Where can I see Study of the head of St. Michael?

Study of the head of St. Michael is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Study of the head of St. Michael?

Study of the head of St. Michael is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Study of the head of St. Michael

Jacques-Louis David , 1778

Study of the head of St. Michael is a drawing by the Neoclassicist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This drawing is a study of a head, executed in graphite in 1778.

About this work

Overview

This drawing is a study of a head, executed in graphite in 1778. It includes an inscription and is based on a detail from a painting by Guido Reni.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a head, originally that of Saint Michael, turned slightly to the side. The subject's hair and facial features are rendered in loose, expressive lines and shading.

Technique & Style

The artist employed light pencil lines to capture the folds of the subject's collar and the curve of their neck. The drawing's rapid execution is evident in its loose, gestural marks, which convey a sense of immediacy and study.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques-Louis David

Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.