Three views of the head of a man with a mustache wearing a turban

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving by Francesco Casanova presents three distinct views of a man’s head, each rendered with careful attention to the folds of his turban and the subtle contours of his mustached face. Created as a print rather than a painting, the work exemplifies the 18th-century interest in character studies and exotic costume, allowing viewers to examine the same subject from multiple angles within a compact format. Measuring just over three by five inches, the trimmed sheet highlights the precision of engraving as a medium, which enabled artists to circulate detailed studies widely among collectors and fellow draftsmen. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, the print reflects Casanova’s broader fascination with figures that often appeared alongside horses in his battle and genre scenes. The turban and facial features suggest an interest in Eastern dress popular in European art of the period, inviting viewers to consider how such small prints served both as artistic exercises and as windows into cultural curiosity.