Plaster of a Woman's Head

Plaster casts of antique sculptures were used as models for drawing and painting throughout the nineteenth century. Monochrome and immovable, they were the ideal subjects for young artists before they tackled the more complex flesh tones and fluid structures of the live model. At the same time these casts introduced artists to the rich traditions of classical art, and plaster sculptures often decorated artists' studios. Fluidly painted, the sensitive white plaster portrait, hanging by a hook and string, divides the background into equal areas of grey and orange-brown, creating a sensuous and intimate image of an inanimate object.