Heads of a Boy and a Bearded Man (an Apostle)

This head study of a boy and a bearded man in the Royal Collection belongs to the preparatory studies that Ricci produced for his larger decorative compositions. Such oil sketches reveal the spontaneous, exploratory approach underlying his finished works — the heads studied in varying light conditions, their expressions and ages contrasted to develop the figure vocabulary for a specific narrative subject. The Royal Collection's holdings of Ricci's work — accumulated during his English stay and subsequently through diplomatic channels — include both finished works and studies, allowing scholars to study his preparatory process alongside his completed productions.

The head studies are painted with remarkable fluidity and directness, Ricci's confident brushwork capturing character and expression with an economy of means that reveals his exceptional facility.