The artwork titled “Jane Burden, aged 18” is a pen sketch created by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1858. This piece belongs to the Romanticism movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study. The dimensions of the artwork are 49.2 x 37.6 cm. It is presently housed in the National Gallery of Ireland, located in Dublin, Ireland.
In this artwork, the artist has rendered a delicate and detailed depiction of a young woman, purported to be Jane Burden, with an intricate focus on her facial features and hair. The subject is portrayed in a contemplative pose, her head slightly tilted to one side with a distant gaze. The shading around her face adds depth and texture, enhancing the lifelike quality of the sketch. Notably, the rest of her body, including her hands and clothing, is rendered with lighter, less defined lines, suggesting a preliminary study or a focus on capturing the essence of her expression. The combination of the precise facial details and the softer outlines of her attire exemplifies Rossetti’s skill in creating a balance between detail and form, characteristic of his Romantic style.
