Artwork
Head of a young man
Head of a young man is a drawing by Francesco Di Cristofano Guidicis. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This chalk drawing portrays the head of a young man in a three-quarter view, with his gaze cast downward and to the left, characterized by wavy hair and softly defined facial contours.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a youthful male figure, captured in a contemplative pose, suggested by his downward and leftward gaze, though the drawing's emotional depth or specific identity remains ambiguous.
Technique & Style
The work employs stippling, a method of creating shading and texture through tiny dots and strokes, applied with careful layering to convey light, form, and subtle depth.
History & Provenance
Attributions for the drawing vary among scholars, with some attributing it to Franciabigio (Tancred Borenius, Philip Pouncey) and others to Raffaelino del Garbo (Bernard Berenson), reflecting uncertainty in its authorship.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Di Cristofano Guidicis
This Italian artist from the early Renaissance drew careful line studies of faces and hands.
