Who painted Head of a young Woman?

Head of a young Woman was painted by Hippolyte Flandrin in 1846.

Where can I see Head of a young Woman?

Head of a young Woman is held by Ashmolean Museum.

Artwork

Head of a young Woman

Head of a young Woman is an oil painting by Hippolyte Flandrin. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1846, *Head of a Young Woman* is an oil painting by French artist Hippolyte Flandrin. Executed in a restrained Neoclassical manner, the work presents a close‑up portrait of a young woman rendered with smooth modeling and a muted palette. The composition is limited to the sitter’s head and shoulders against a uniform off‑white background, emphasizing the quiet elegance of the figure.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait shows a young woman with brown hair cut in a short bob, parting centrally, and turned slightly to her right. She wears a simple white garment, and her expression is calm and introspective. The straightforward presentation, devoid of narrative detail, invites contemplation of the sitter’s individuality and the artist’s focus on idealized, timeless beauty.

Technique & Style

Flandrin employs delicate brushwork to achieve seamless transitions between light and shadow, creating a soft modelling of the facial features. The limited colour range and smooth surface reflect his academic training under Ingres, emphasizing line, proportion, and a polished finish characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century French Neoclassicism.

History & Provenance

The painting dates from the middle of Flandrin’s career, a period when he was establishing his reputation within the French academic tradition. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented as part of the artist’s oeuvre and has been referenced in scholarly catalogues of his portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hippolyte Flandrin

Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin (23 March 1809 – 21 March 1864) was a French Neoclassical painter. His most celebrated work, Jeune Homme Nu Assis au Bord de la Mer (1836) is held in the Louvre.