Head of a Woman Looking Back Over Her Shoulder

Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Associated Names
Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Artist, French, 1725 - 1805

The image depicts a detailed drawing of a person's head and shoulders. The individual is shown in a three-quarter view with their head slightly tilted back and turned to the side, looking upward. The person has facial features with a smooth complexion, prominent cheekbones, and an attentive expression. They have light, wavy hair tied into a bun, revealing fine, soft strands. The individual wears a garment draped over their shoulders, indicated by soft lines suggesting fabric folds. The background is plain with a simple border around the sketch, highlighting the person's profile and expression.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    red chalk on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall: 43.2 x 29.3 cm (17 x 11 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1981.50.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Catherine II, empress of Russia [1729-1796]; Academy of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg (L.2699a); State Hermitage Museum; (sale, Leipzig, C. G. Boerner, 4 May 1932, no. 50); Ferrers, London; Robert Abdy, 1962; Mrs. M. Fitzwilliam, until 1980; (sale, London, Christie, Manson & Woods, 9 December 1980, no. 168, ill.); Adolphe Stein; purchased by the National Gallery, 1981.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1983

  • Graphics Survey Exhibition, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., September 1983.

Bibliography

1959

  • Stein, 7/6-7/18/81, 73.

2009

  • Grasselli, Margaret Morgan. Renaissance to Revolution: French Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, 1500-1800. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2009: 170, fig. 2 (color).

Inscriptions

lower left in pen and dark brown ink: 8-No 66. (inventory number of Catherine the Great of Russia)

Watermarks

Wikidata ID

Q64581123

You may be interested in

Loading Results