Studies of an Old Bearded Man's Head Thrown Back
Two red-chalk studies of a raised, upward-gazing face on reddened paper
Two studies in red chalk on reddened paper show the head of an old bearded man thrown sharply back, the face lifted and seen from below. The larger upper study is fully modelled, with flowing hair and a long curling beard and a carefully drawn ear; a second, smaller version at the lower right repeats the same raised head. Faint traces of an inscription in an old hand appear at the upper right, but the bundle transcribes no text for this leaf.
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Head thrown back (principal study)
The dominant study renders a bearded old man with his head tilted far back and mouth slightly open, the neck taut and the eyes turned upward. Hair, beard, and ear are worked in fine red-chalk strokes.
Repeated raised head
A smaller version of the same upturned, bearded head is drawn at the lower right, testing the pose a second time. It is less finished than the study above.