The artwork titled “Head of the twelve year old Christ” is a religious painting by Albrecht Dürer, created around 1506 during the Northern Renaissance. The piece is held at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria. It exemplifies the detailed and precise style characteristic of the Northern Renaissance.
The artwork depicts a detailed and intimate portrait of the youthful Christ. The focus of the drawing is the serene, contemplative face, surrounded by softly curling locks of hair. The young Christ is portrayed with a gentle gaze that conveys a sense of wisdom beyond his years. The subtle gradations of tone and the finesse in the rendering of the hair textures reveal Dürer’s mastery in creating lifelike images and facial expressions. The fine hatching and confident lines used for shading around the face add depth and dimension to the artwork, while the finesse of the lighter areas captures the softness of youthful skin. The drawing not only serves as a religious icon but also as an example of Dürer’s exceptional skill and technique as an artist of the Renaissance period.
