Artwork Page for Head of a Man

Details / Information for Head of a Man

Head of a Man

1886

Alphonse Legros

(French, 1837–1911)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
metalpoint
Support
White clay-coated board, laid down on cardboard, overmatted with cardboard mount
Measurements
Sheet: 31.5 x 23 cm (12 3/8 x 9 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2008.392
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler encouraged Alphonse Legros to visit London in 1863, and he spent the rest of his life there.

Description

This drawing, which appears to be a portrait at first glance, is difficult to categorize. Alphonse Legros created many such images while teaching in London, at the school of South Kensington and then at the Slade School, where he advised his students to directly copy the Old Masters. Legros combined depiction of live models with references to art of the past, as seen here. He used the thin lines of metalpoint for expressive means on this sheet.
A vertically oriented metalpoint drawing on light tan paper depicts the head of a man tilting down toward our left with downcast eyes. A wide fabric band wraps around his forehead above chin-length hair. Fine, parallel diagonal hatching shades the right side of his face and neck, while faint lines define his hair. The upper right corner includes a handwritten inscription that reads "A. Legros 1886."

Head of a Man

1886

Alphonse Legros

(French, 1837–1911)
France, 19th century

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