
Read the visual description
The image shows a bust of a man, capturing the upper part of his torso and head. The man is positioned slightly facing the right side, with his head turned to give a three-quarter profile view. He has facial features such as a prominent nose, deep-set eyes, and a full, curly beard and hair. The hair and beard are depicted with detailed curls and shading. The man is not wearing any visible clothing or jewelry. The background is a plain, neutral tone, allowing the focus to remain on the bust. The artwork is rendered in a monochromatic color scheme using varying shades of brown and sepia tones.
National Gallery of Art · Drawing
Bearded Head after the Antique
Giovanni Battista Cipriani
- Medium
- gray wash heightened with white on brown wove paper
- Dimensions
- overall: 19.2 x 15.8 cm (7 9/16 x 6 1/4 in.)
- Classification
- Drawing
- Accession number
- 1995.52.26
- Credit line
- Gift of William B. O'Neal
- Time span
- 1726 to 1750
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- male
- figure
- Head
- Bearded man
Provenance
(Covent Garden Gallery, Ltd. [William Drummond], London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1979-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.
NGA object ID 75936. 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.