Study of a girl's head in profile

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA (1833-1898)

Black chalk on handmade paper.

13 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, 33.5 x 23.5 cm.

his drawing, made in the last few years of Burne-Jones's life, is unlikely to be a study for a painting, but is probably an independent drawing or even a portrait. This is suggested by the use of handmade paper which is unusual for the artist. It is a good example of his broader late drawing style and also shows his practice at that time of toning the background to throw the head into relief. The unknown sitter has the fine-drawn profile that Burne-Jones first found in Marie Zambaco and continued to prefer for the rest of his life.

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