Head of a Young Woman
1651 to 1700
Medium
etching and engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 18.4 x 12.6 cm (7 1/4 x 4 15/16 in.) sheet: 28.6 x 21.8 cm (11 1/4 x 8 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2000.139.1
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Head of a Young Woman*, an exquisite etching and engraving on laid paper by Francesco Polanzani, faithfully reproducing a composition by the esteemed Bolognese Baroque master Carlo Cignani. Created sometime between 1651 and 1700, this intimate print measures just 18.4 x 12.6 cm on the plate, inviting close contemplation of its subject's serene features—softly modeled face, flowing hair, and gentle gaze that evoke quiet introspection. In the Baroque era, prints like this one played a vital role in spreading the elegance of Italian painting across Europe. Cignani, a leading...