Mönchskopf im verlorenen Profil nach rechts, in die Höhe blickend 

Francesco Padovanino created this drawing of a monk's head in profile, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century, using black chalk on paper. The medium of black chalk lends itself to capturing the subtle gradations of light and shadow that define the monk’s features. Notice how Padovanino uses delicate, almost imperceptible strokes to build up the contours of the face, suggesting the texture of skin and the fall of light. The choice of paper also plays a crucial role; its slightly rough surface provides a tooth for the chalk, allowing the artist to create a range of tonal values. Drawings like this were often produced in studios as part of an apprentice’s training, or as preparatory studies for larger paintings. The economy of means – just chalk and paper – belies the skill required to capture the essence of the subject. Padovanino’s choice of materials, combined with his technique, imbues the work with a sense of immediacy and intimacy, inviting us to contemplate not only the image, but also the labor and expertise that brought it into being.