Artwork
Female Head (cartoon for the south wall, south-east angle of the ceiling cove, dining room, Dorchester House)
Female Head (cartoon for the south wall, south-east angle of the ceiling cove, dining room, Dorchester House) is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist Alfred Stevens. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Female Head is a painting by Alfred Stevens, created in 1860 as part of a decorative scheme for Dorchester House. It is now held in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a female head in a realistic style, with hair pulled back and gaze directed upwards. The subject's expression and the overall composition reflect Stevens' focus on refined, contemporary Parisian life.
Technique & Style
Stevens employed a realist style with meticulous finish, characteristic of his work influenced by 17th-century Dutch genre painting. Notable is the subtle interplay of light and shadow on the subject's face, enhancing depth and dimension.
History & Provenance
Originally designed for the south-east angle of the ceiling cove in the dining room of Dorchester House, the painting is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Émile Léopold Stevens (11 May 1823 – 24 August 1906) was a Belgian painter, known for his paintings of elegant modern women.
Head and Arms of a Figure (cartoon for the southwest angle of the ceiling cove, dining room, Dorchester House)
Lower Limbs of a Figure (cartoon for the south wall, dining room, Dorchester House)
Limbs of Left Figure (cartoon for the south wall, dining room, Dorchester House)
Right Figure (cartoon for the south wall, dining room, Dorchester House)
Left Figure (cartoon for the south wall, dining room, Dorchester House)
Sketch of a woman’s head