Artwork
Study Head of a Woman
Study Head of a Woman is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The study depicts a woman in profile, emphasizing a graceful line and delicate facial rendering typical of Jean‑Baptiste Greuze’s neoclassical portraiture.
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel in 1780, reflecting the material practice of late‑18th‑century French academic art. The study depicts a woman in profile, emphasizing a graceful line and delicate facial rendering typical of Jean‑Baptiste Greuze’s neoclassical portraiture. Its classification as a study indicates a focus on head and expression rather than a fully finished composition.
The piece belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and was formerly owned by William T. Blodgett.
History & Provenance
Study Head of a Woman was painted by Jean-Baptiste Greuze in 1780, executed in oil on panel. The work later entered the collection of William T. Blodgett, who is recorded as a former owner. It subsequently became part of the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
No information regarding a specific commission, initial patron, or detailed chain of intermediate ownerships between the artist and Blodgett is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created by French painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze in 1790, Study Head of a Woman is an oil painting that captures the likeness of an unidentified female subject. This work exemplifies Greuze's skill in portraiture, a genre for which he was widely recognized. The painting is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a woman's head and a portion of her shoulder, her gaze subtly averted. Her hair is neatly gathered and secured with a dark ribbon tied into a bow. She wears a dark garment beneath a white collar adorned with lace trim.
The artist employs a plain, dark background to direct the viewer's attention entirely to the subject's features and expression.
Context
Jean-Baptiste Greuze was a prominent French artist of the late 18th century, celebrated for his diverse output. While often associated with sentimental genre scenes and moralizing history paintings, he also excelled in portraiture. Study Head of a Woman demonstrates his proficiency in capturing individual character, a skill that contributed significantly to his reputation among patrons and the public during his active career.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French pronunciation: 21 August 1725 – 4 March 1805) was a French painter of portraits, genre scenes, and history painting.
