Study of a Youth with his Head Turned to the Left and Leaning on his Right Elbow
late 16th–early 17th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink
Dimensions
3 1/4 x 4 5/8 in. (8.2 x 11.7 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Accession Number
1975.131.178
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th to early 17th century, Dutch artist Jacques de Gheyn II crafted this intimate *Study of a Youth with his Head Turned to the Left and Leaning on his Right Elbow* using pen and brown ink. Measuring just 3¼ x 4⅝ inches, this delicate drawing exemplifies the Northern Mannerist tradition, where de Gheyn excelled in precise, fluid line work to capture human form with psychological depth. His studies like this one often served as preparatory sketches for larger paintings or standalone works, showcasing his mastery of contour and subtle shading through hatching and cross-hatching. Th...