Half-Length Sketch of Gentleman Wearing Wig
n.d.
Medium
Red chalk on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
23.7 × 13.1 cm (9 3/8 × 5 3/16 in.)
Classification
chalk
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85510
Art Historical Context
This delicate sketch portrays a gentleman in profile, his elaborate wig rendered with soft, precise strokes of red chalk on ivory laid paper. Measuring just 23.7 by 13.1 centimeters, the drawing exemplifies the intimate scale typical of preparatory studies preserved in museum collections like the Art Institute of Chicago’s Department of Prints and Drawings. Red chalk, valued for its warm tonal range and ability to capture subtle modeling, lends the figure a lifelike presence despite the work’s modest size. Created by an unknown hand on an unspecified date, the piece highlights the enduring ro...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...