Head of a Man and Head of a Lion (verso), Vittore Carpaccio, between 1495 and 1516

Although one can find similar faces throughout carpaccio’s paintings, the portrait-like male head on this drawing has been associated with one of the onlookers in saint ursula and the prince taking leave from their parents, from his celebrated saint ursula cycle, now in the gallerie dell’accademia, venice. This somber venetian patrician shares the sheet with a more iconic lion’s head, executed with the same deft combination of black chalk and brushwork. The lion bears a distant resemblance to carpaccio’s monumental painting lion of saint mark, of 1516, in the palazzo ducale, venice. Despite these compelling connections, the two heads are more easily understood as models provided by the artist for his workshop’s use rather than as preliminary studies for particular works. Date: between 1495 and 1516. Dimensions: height: 23.2 cm (9.1 in); width: 12.1 cm (4.7 in); frame: height: 51 cm (20 in); width: 40.6 cm (15.9 in); depth: 3.5 cm (1.3 in). Medium: black chalk, brush and brown wash, gouache, laid paper. Collection: Princeton University Art Museum. Carpaccio, Vittore, Head of a Man and Head of a Lion (verso), 1495-1516