On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01491
- Author
- Dyck, Anton van (Flemish),
- Title
- The Head of an Old Man
- Chronology
- 1622-1632
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 47 cm x 36 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A bearded, grey-haired old man
turns his head to the left over a
black background.
This is similar to another head by
the same artist (P1649) and is
probably a sketch or model for a
larger work, intended to study
expressions and posture.
This work is from the artist's
youth, as can be seen in the rough
texture of the brushstrokes on the
face, which link it to other
portraits from his first
period.
This work has sometimes been
attributed to Rubens, to whom,
curiously, it belonged until 1640,
when it was acquired at the auction
of his belongings by Felipe IV.
