Study of a Youthful Male Head in Profile
Drawing / Master Study on paper • Circle of the Carracci (Annibale or Agostino Carracci); Bolognese School
Style & Movement
Late Mannerism / Early Baroque
Medium & Technique
Red chalk (sanguine) on laid paper; cross-hatching and fine stippling techniques
Creation Period
Late 16th to early 17th Century (c. 1580-1620)
Dimensions & Format
Small format; estimated 15 x 10 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A bust-length anatomical study of a young man with curly hair looking downward in three-quarter profile. The expression suggests intensity or introspection. The focus is on the musculature of the neck and the classical rendering of the facial features.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows typical signs of age-related degradation
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $7,000 (depending on definitive attribution)
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $5,000
Provenance History
Likely from a larger artist's sketchbook or a private collection of Old Master drawings; no visible collector stamps in the current crop.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the 'Accademia degli Incamminati' style, which emphasized drawing from life and classical sculpture to move away from late Mannerist artifice.
Notable Features
Exquisite handling of the sanguine medium; the treatment of the hair and the contoured modeling of the shoulder are hallmarks of the Bolognese academic tradition.
Condition Issues
Significant foxing (brown spots), surface dirt, slight yellowing of the paper, and evidence of historical moisture exposure.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional deacidification and cleaning by a paper conservator; archival mounting with UV-protective museum glass.