Apostle’s Head, Velázquez

This portrait features a remarkable use of chiaroscuro, showcasing the face of an apostle. It is not exactly known which biblical figure it represents, but it is known not to be either Saint Thomas or Saint Paul, as it is presumed that the original canvas (before being trimmed) already included these two saints.

Experts are not 100% certain of the canvas's authorship; however, the characteristics of the painting can be attributed with little margin of error to the style the painter developed between 1619 and 1620.