1847
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Head of an Italian Woman is a 1847 unspecified by Jean Léon Gérôme, a Realism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows a woman with a severe expression. She's dressed in simple clothing and has a straightforward gaze. The way she's portrayed reminds us of ancient Roman statues, which is interesting because the artist was inspired by Rome. The artist spent time in Rome, which influenced this work. The woman's clothing and expression are simple, yet powerful. To learn more, look up the technique of sfumato.
Gérôme spent the years 1843 and 1844 in Rome, where this work was painted. The woman's severe expression and drapery recall ancient Roman statuary as well as the 19th-century belief that the essence of the antique could still be found amid the ruins and people of contemporary Rome.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Jean-Léon Gérôme was a French painter and sculptor in the style now known as academicism.
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