The head of a middle-aged man, turned slightly to left, 1895,0915.619

This black chalk drawing depicts a male figure with a deeply expressive, contemplative countenance and a furrowed brow. The artist uses delicate hatching and shading to define the anatomical structure of the face and the muscular tension in the neck as the figure gazes toward an unseen source. It is a highly detailed character study intended for a figure in a larger narrative composition.

This work is a study for one of the apostles in Raphael’s 'Transfiguration,' reflecting the High Renaissance concern with 'affetti'—the visual representation of the soul's internal movements. In the context of the Neoplatonic philosophy prevalent in Raphael's Roman circle, the figure’s upward gaze represents the human attempt to perceive divine light and the spiritual ascent of the soul toward the intelligible realm.