Head of the companion with a sword

Among the heads on this panel, the underdrawing of this head is unique in its detail. First of all we are struck by the largely dark lines, which in sometimes dense, parallel strokes seek to capture the forms of the eyebrows, eyes, mouth and chin, and finally loosely sketch the hair with its ornaments. On closer inspection, further fine and paler lines are visible in the face, which, in the form of hatching, not only define the shaded areas, but seem to continue the internal drawing in individual, more or less dense strokes. Given this detailed and exploratory underdrawing, one might consider whether this is not the portrait of a real person.

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