Study of a Woman in Bust-Length Three-Quarter View (recto); Summary Sketch of the Same (verso). 1700 - 1800

This anonymous drawing from the 18th century shows the bust-length portrait of a woman in a three-quarter view. The woman's face is drawn with detail, including her hand resting on her chin. The drawing is executed in black chalk on blue paper, which enhances the contrast between the subject and the background. This work is considered a study or preparatory sketch for a larger painting. The piece is located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.