Full-length Portrait of a Woman
Medium
Pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash, over graphite, on ivory laid paper, laid down on board
Dimensions
19.9 × 14 cm (7 7/8 × 5 9/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
49424
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Dante Gabriel Rossetti created this delicate full-length portrait in 1846 using pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash over graphite. Executed on ivory laid paper, the small drawing measures just under 8 by 6 inches and showcases the young artist’s precise line work and subtle tonal modeling. The medium allows for both crisp details and soft shading, giving the figure a lively yet intimate presence. Although created before Rossetti helped found the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848, the portrait already hints at the movement’s emphasis on careful observation and medieval-inspired grace. Such drawings served as important studies for later paintings and reflect the 19th-century revival of interest in linear draftsmanship inspired by early Renaissance masters. Now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this work offers visitors a glimpse into Rossetti’s formative years and the enduring appeal of works on paper, which capture an artist’s hand with remarkable immediacy.
About the Artist
Dante Gabriel Rossetti · 1828–1882
British artist. Comment on works: Allegory