Artwork
Study of a coiffure
Study of a coiffure is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Edward Coley, Sir Burne-Jones. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This monochrome drawing depicts a woman's tightly coiled hair arranged in a neat bun.
About this work
Overview
This monochrome drawing depicts a woman's tightly coiled hair arranged in a neat bun. Executed in hard pencil, the work consists solely of crisp, precise lines that define the form without any shading or colour, presenting a clear study of the coiffure’s structure.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing serves as a focused examination of a specific element of female attire—a stylised bun—rather than a narrative scene. By isolating the hair, the artist explores its decorative qualities and the way light interacts with the tightly gathered strands.
Technique & Style
Created with a hard graphite pencil, the piece reflects an interest in the fine, needle‑like lines characteristic of late‑15th and early‑16th‑century Florentine drawings. The artist deliberately employed a controlled, exacting hand to achieve the clean, linear quality reminiscent of those historic Italian studies.
History & Provenance
Produced in the early 1870s, the drawing coincides with the artist’s two Italian trips, during which he examined original Renaissance drawings. Though not a direct preparatory sketch for the later painting "The Beguiling of Merlin," it is believed to have been made in connection with that work’s development.
Context
The piece reflects the broader 19th‑century revival of interest in early master drawings, a movement championed by the artist who collected photographic reproductions of such works. This study illustrates how the artist integrated historic drawing techniques into his own practice, bridging past and contemporary artistic concerns.
Artist & collection
![Studies of a Woman and Her Dress [verso], by Perry, Enoch Wood, Jr.](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/perry-enoch-wood-jr--studies-of-a-woman-and-her-dress-verso--abf8075589814203-w320.webp)
