Bust of Youth Wearing Hat (recto); Angel Head (verso)
n.d.
Medium
Brush and gray wash, and graphite (recto and verso), on cream wove paper
Dimensions
21.7 × 28.2 cm (8 9/16 × 11 1/8 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
114887
Art Historical Context
George Morland's *Bust of Youth Wearing Hat (recto); Angel Head (verso)* offers a captivating glimpse into the versatility of this prolific English artist (1763–1804). Best known for his vivid depictions of rural life, animals, and sentimental genre scenes in the late 18th century, Morland here showcases his skill in figure studies. The recto features a youthful bust adorned with a hat, evoking a sense of playful innocence, while the verso reveals a serene angel head, suggesting themes of purity or spirituality. This double-sided composition highlights Morland's economical approach, a common p...
About the Artist
George Morland
English painter, son of the pastel portraitist, dealer and restorer Henry Robert Morland and the grandson of the genre painter George Henry Morland. Comment on works: Landscapes; Genre; Animals; Marines