Frederic William Burton (Wicklow, Ireland, 1816 - 1900, London)
George Eliot, about 1864
Engraving, 25.5 x 20.25 cm (10 1/16 x 8 in.)
A vertical portrait of a woman engraved on paper, shown from the neck up in gray-tone. Her face is centered in the paper with a couple of inches of empty space surrounding her on all sides. She faces the viewer, turned slightly indicated by a small twist in her neck, but looks past the viewer, into the distance. Her hair is parted down the middle and is pulled back, giving the impression of a bob. To our left, the bottom of her ear sticks out from her hair and a wisp of hair hangs over her forehead. Her eyebrows are slightly crinkled and a small crease forms between her brows and over her eye to our right. Her cheekbones are high and her nose sharp, accentuated by slight shadows on the right side of her face. Her lips are closed and there is a small dimple on her chin. Her neck turns slightly as she looks to our left, casting a shadow underneath her chin.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.