Record details

• generalData.authorNameInListings

  Marià Fortuny (1838-1874)

• generalData.title

  Beheaded head

• technicalData.measurements

  42 x 32 cm

• technicalData.description

  Oil on canvas

• technicalData.complementaryDescription

  This artwork, created by Mariano Fortuny Marsal between 1855 and 1857, reflects the artist’s academic focus during his formative years, specifically during his training in anatomical art under the guidance of Professor Geronimo Faraudo, who played an important role in the application of anatomical artistic classes in “La Llotja”. The piece likely served as an exercise in both technical precision and artistic expression, merging the scientific study of human anatomy with a dramatic and evocative aesthetic.
  
  The subject of the painting appears to be a severed human head, rendered with striking attention to detail and anatomical accuracy. The pallor and texture of the flesh are depicted with bold, expressive brushstrokes, capturing the tension between realism and the emotional resonance of the scene. The use of light and shadow accentuates the contours of the face, emphasizing its lifelessness and lending a sense of solemnity to the work. The background, composed of loose and swirling strokes, creates a dynamic, almost ethereal atmosphere that contrasts with the stark corporeality of the subject.
  
  The choice of subject and its meticulous execution suggest Fortuny’s dedication to the rigorous study of anatomy, a discipline essential to the classical art education of the time. At the same time, the dramatic composition and emotional depth hint at the artist’s developing interest in themes of mortality and the human condition, which would become significant in his later works.
  
  This piece, dedicated to his professor Geronimo Faraudo, not only demonstrates Fortuny’s technical skill but also serves as a tribute to his mentor’s influence on his artistic and academic development. It bridges the worlds of science and art, exemplifying the 19th-century tradition of anatomical studies as both a scientific endeavor and an artistic practice.