Head of a Girl

Gustave Jean Jacquet 1846 - 1909

Summary

This is a typical study by the portraitist and genre painter, Jean Jacquet, which shows a young, elegantly dressed woman with a flower in her hair. The face is serious and thoughtful, and she looks away from the viewer, as if lost in thought. Her face is brightly lit from the right, as if she is standing by an open window. Her complexion is fresh and smooth. Jacquet was a highly successful pupil of the Neo-Classical genre painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau. He is best known for his genre scenes and portraits depicting woman and soldiers in 16th, 17th and 18th century costume. He was especially talented at painting women, and Bouguereau's influence is evident in the smooth, beautifully coloured flesh tones of his female figures. This simple portrait is likely to date from relatively early in his career.