Study of a Man's Head

Bartolommeo Montagna

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Bartolommeo Montagna. The drawing shows the bust of a man facing the viewer and looking slightly to the right and upwards. The man has thin, curly hair and his brow is in a frown relaying a serious and almost angry expression. The original drawing was in black chalk. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 27 BARTOLOMMEO MONTAGNA (b. 1450 (?); d. 1523) STUDY OF A MAN'S HEAD British Museum, 1902-6-17-1. (From the Habich Collection.) Black Chalk. 15.4 x 24.8 cm. (6 1/8 x 9 3/4 in.) A noble and characteristic example. It shows the essential grandeur of Montagna's style as well as the unselect character of the peasant type he chose to fill heroic roles. In breadth of handling the drawing anticipates the full Renaissance, but it is probably not one of the artist's later and feebler works. The curiously exaggerated marking of the filtrum is a noticeable trait in Motagna's early style. In feeling, too, this is akin to his frescoes in the Cathedral at Vicenza, and in SS. Nazaro e Celso at Verona. At this stage he was evidently in contact with Bonsignori. ROGER E. FRY."