Sketch for the Sorrowful Mysteries, The Carrying of the Cross. Head and Shoulders of a Man 

This charcoal sketch by John Singer Sargent depicts a man's head and shoulders. The subject is looking upwards, with his face contorted in an expression of intense emotion. This drawing is likely a study for a larger composition, "The Carrying of the Cross", part of a series of sketches for the Sorrowful Mysteries. Sargent was known for his masterful portraiture and dynamic use of charcoal, which he utilized here to capture the raw emotion of his subject. Sargent, born in 1856 and active until his death in 1925, is renowned for his portraiture and figure studies.