The Head of Christ

c. 1500

German 15th Century

Associated Names
The image shows a detailed profile view of a man's head and upper neck, facing left. The man has wavy, shoulder-length hair and a beard, with distinct facial features including a prominent nose and defined jawline. The expression is neutral. The artwork is rendered in a monochrome, woodcut style, with intricate lines highlighting the hair texture and facial features. The man's clothing appears to have a high collar, but details are minimal due to the artistic style and focus on the face. Surrounding him is a circular border with decorative, medieval-style text inscribed along the circumference. The background is plain, aged paper with handwritten text filling the page, featuring both legible and faded portions that overlay the circular image.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.522

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Schreiber, Vol. IX, no. 757, State m


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1965

  • Fifteenth-Century Woodcuts and Metalcuts from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art, NGA, 1965-1966, no. 110, repro.

Bibliography

1926

  • Schreiber, Wilhelm Ludwig. Handbuch de Holz- und Metailschnitte des XV Jahrhunderts. 8 vols. Leipzig: Verlag Karl W. Hierseman, 1926-1930.

1965

  • Field, Richard S. Fifteenth Century Woodcuts and Metalcuts from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.. Exh. cat. Washington: National Gallery of Art, 1965: no. 110.

Wikidata ID

Q64952957

You may be interested in

Loading Results