Head of a boy and section of a horse's mane
Original title: Head of a boy and section of a horse's mane
kurzbeschreibung
Drawn between 1500 and 1550, this sheet is attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi). It shows the head of a boy with curly hair and a red headcovering; a horse's mane appears at the side. The drawing is executed with brush in brown and red gouache over a little black chalk.
Description
A young man's profile emerges, his hair wavy and curly. A red cap is only partly captured, and the face remains partly hidden by the hair. At the edge, a horse's mane pushes into the image, extending the composition. Brown dominates the palette, interspersed with red and beige tones that shape the surface.
Context
The study probably served as preparatory work for a larger painting, perhaps a Madonna or a Holy Family. The combination of human head and horse mane suggests a figure study for an equestrian or history painting. The dating to the first half of the sixteenth century falls within Raphael's Roman years, when numerous preparatory drawings for frescoes and panel paintings were made.
Impact
The loose, sketchy execution gives the impression of a spontaneous study. Warm brown and red tones lend the sheet an intimate, almost sensuous mood that draws the eye to the hair and headcovering.
Technique
Brush and brown and red gouache, applied over a small amount of black chalk, characterize the mixed technique. This allows fine transitions of light and shadow to be worked out, especially in the hair. At 24.0 x 33.2 cm, the format corresponds to a study that permits precise detailed work.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)