Head of a Bearded Man (Nicodemus)
1577–1660
Medium
Oil paint on paper
Dimensions
15-9/16 x 11-1/8 in. (39.5 x 28.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Kate Ganz Dorment, in memory of her father, Victor W. Ganz, 1988
Accession Number
1988.140
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Giacomo Cavedone *Head of a Bearded Man (odemus)* offers museum visitors an intimate glimpse into 17th-century Italian draftsmanship. Dated within the artist's lifespan (157–1660), this painting on paper measures 15-9/16 x 11-1/8 inches (39.5 x 28.2 cm) and resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints. The work's classification as a drawing underscores its role as a preparatory study, with the unusual choice of oil on paper allowing for rich tonal depth and fluid brushwork—techniques that bridged sketches and finished paintings in the Baroque era. The title evokes Nicodemus, the biblical Pharisee from the Gospel of John who secretly visited Jesus at night, symbolizing themes of contemplation and spiritual inquiry. Cavedone's focus on the bearded man's expressive head captures subtle textures of skin, hair, and gaze, highlighting the Renaissance-to-Baroque fascination with human character and emotion through close-up portraiture. A generous gift from Kate Ganz Dorment in memory of her father, Victor W. Ganz, in 1988, this piece invites reflection on the artist's studio process. Its tags—Heads, Men—emphasize its genre as a male head study, a staple for practicing light, shadow, and anatomy in European art academies.
About the Artist
Giacomo Cavedone · 1577–1660
Italian, Sassuolo 1577–1660 Bologna