Head of a bearded man, possibly an apostle

This head of a bearded man, possibly an apostle, around 1620, by Jordaens, is a study head that could serve as preparation for a larger religious composition. Jordaens maintained extensive records of character types for use in his narrative paintings. Jordaens, who outlived both Rubens and Van Dyck to become the dominant figure in Flemish Baroque painting for the second half of the seventeenth century, was particularly celebrated for his exuberant genre subjects, especially his series on the Flemish proverb about the King of the Bean.

The bearded head is rendered with vigorous brushwork that captures the character of the sitter with bold, confident strokes. The warm palette and direct observation create a convincing study of masculine maturity.