Matthias Grünewald

Mathias Grünewald (c. 1470 in Würzburg, died 31 August 1528) was a German painter and artist. Today he is seen as one of the important German artists of the Renaissance. His real name was Mathias Gothart or Mathias Neidhardt, his first name is also spelled Mathis. Sometimes he is called Mathias of Aschaffenburg. Today, only ten paintings and 35 drawings survive. At first many of his works were attributed to Albrecht Dürer, even though Dürer's style of paining is completely different. All the surviving works have religious motifs.

This drawing has often been seen as the only authentic self portrait of Grünewald. Newer studies suggest however, that it is a study about John the Baptist