Head of St James and study for the Coronation of the Virgin, 1895,0915.610

This drawing shows a youthful figure with thick, wavy hair, his head tilted back and eyes directed toward the heavens. It is a detailed character study for the figure of Saint James in the 'Coronation of the Virgin' altarpiece. The artist uses delicate hatching to capture a sense of divine awe and psychological depth in the apostle's expression.

The upward gaze illustrates the Neoplatonic concept of the 'ascent of the soul' and the 'divine frenzy' (furor divinus) described by Marsilio Ficino. This visual language was used by Renaissance artists to signify the transition from earthly perception to the spiritual contemplation of celestial truths.