Read the visual description
This is a drawing of a person's head and shoulders. The person is facing forward with a slight tilt to the left. Their facial features show a smiling expression, with joyfully squinted eyes and a broad grin. The person's hair is shoulder-length with soft curls framing the face. The drawing implies the presence of a garment, possibly a shirt, with hints of a collar or scarf around the neck. There are no visible pieces of jewelry or objects in the person's hands. The background is plain without any additional elements or scenery.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
A Smiling Boy with Flowing Hair
Italian 17th or 18th Century
- Date
- c. 1700
- Medium
- red chalk on laid paper
- Dimensions
- sheet: 22.4 x 17.6 cm (8 13/16 x 6 15/16 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 2009.70.170
- Credit line
- Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
- Time span
- 1651 to 1700
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- boy
- portrait
- Portrait
Provenance
Jonathan Richardson, Sr. [1665-1745], London (Lugt, 2184). (P. & D. Colnaghi & Co. Ltd., London, by 1977, as Circle of Giuseppe Maria Mitelli). Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.
Inscription
by later hand on mount, upper left verso in graphite: H445; by later hand on mount, upper center verso in brown ink: T(?) 101 / F.3 / P 2 / T (?) (Shelf numbers by Jonathan Richardson Senior?); by later hand on mount, lower right verso in graphite: steel grey
NGA object ID 143782. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.