#41142 Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)

The drawing presents a portrait study of a young man, executed in pastel on paper. The subject is depicted from the chest up, facing slightly towards the viewers left. A warm, ochre-toned background provides a muted backdrop that allows the figure’s features to emerge with greater clarity.
Here we see an emphasis on capturing the sitter’s character through subtle shading and expressive lines. The artist has rendered the hair in loose, flowing strokes, suggesting volume and movement. It cascades around the face and shoulders, partially obscuring the neck and contributing to a sense of youthful disarray. The facial features are realistically portrayed, with attention given to the modeling of the nose, cheekbones, and chin. A slight furrowing of the brow and a contemplative gaze suggest an introspective nature.
The subject is formally attired in what appears to be a dark suit jacket and a collared shirt secured by a bow tie. The details of the clothing are rendered with less precision than the face and hair, indicating that the artist’s primary focus was on capturing the essence of the individual rather than meticulous representation.
The overall effect is one of quiet intensity and psychological depth. The limited color palette contributes to a somber mood, while the loose application of pastel lends an immediacy and spontaneity to the work. It appears to be more than just a likeness; it aims at conveying something about the sitters personality or inner life. The drawing’s unfinished quality suggests that it may have been intended as a preparatory study for a larger, more formal portrait.