Head of an Old Man 1635

"Head of an Old Man," a 1635 painting by Jusepe de Ribera, depicts the weathered face of an aged man with a long, flowing beard. The subject is adorned with a crown of ivy leaves, suggesting wisdom and connection to nature. Ribera's signature tenebrism, characterized by strong contrasts of light and shadow, enhances the dramatic realism of the portrait. The painting, housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, exemplifies the artist's mastery of chiaroscuro and his exploration of the human condition.