Sketches of Woman's Profile 1863

Frederick William Burton made this pencil sketch of a woman's profile sometime in the mid-19th century. But how might we understand these intimate sketches of a woman's face in their social and cultural context? In 19th century Britain and Ireland, portraiture was closely tied to ideas about social status and gender roles. For women, portraits were often less about individual character and more about representing ideals of beauty, virtue, and domesticity. The sketch captures the woman in a moment of quiet introspection. Her gaze is lowered, and her expression is gentle. We might read this as reinforcing the Victorian idea of women as passive and demure. But is it? As art historians, we should explore biographical sources for further understanding of the sketch and to not jump to conclusions. What do other sketches and portraits by the artist suggest? What was Burton's relationship to the sitter? Examining the social history of portraiture in 19th century Britain alongside a close study of the artist and the context of this work, we might come to a richer understanding.