Head of a Girl. Probably the Daughter of J-F de Troy 1732 - 1776

Editor: Here we have "Head of a Girl," suspected to be the daughter of Jean-Francois de Troy, sculpted sometime between 1732 and 1776 by Jacques Francois Joseph Saly. The bronze has this incredibly still, almost melancholic feel. The young girl is looking down and it makes me feel a little bit… sad? What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It does have a quietness about it, doesn't it? A contemplative hush. For me, that downward gaze suggests not sadness, but perhaps profound inner thought, or maybe she's lost in a private game, completely absorbed in a world only she can see. Do you get that sense of secrecy too? And consider the material. Bronze isn't the softest material, and Saly has captured a gentleness of youth despite it. It's as if he is suggesting how hard life is in being youthful. Editor: You're right, it is interesting the way that bronze is used to represent her youthful look. And I guess it depends what she's looking at? Perhaps she is observing a hidden object, or has a private thought that's been going on in her head? It looks like the braid up on top of her head is also styled, like somebody took the time to style the young girl's hair that way? Curator: Exactly! These sculpted portraits of children weren't exactly snapshots; they were deliberate. That hairstyle, those robes are social signifiers of the 18th century: signs that indicated she's someone, of a family of consequence. It’s about status, power, permanence… things we associate less with youth. Almost trapping youth itself? Do you see that tension there? Editor: So much to think about! So, it's about presenting an image of stillness but also power. She's young but supposed to represent status at the time, which means, that's also on display in this sculpture? Wow, it is somber. Curator: It makes you look inward, and consider outwards and back in time! Wonderful!