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.