Where can I see this Degas drawing?

Head of a Young Roman Girl is at the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland. The museum holds this early work from Degas's Italian study period.

What medium did Degas use?

Degas created this using charcoal, pencil, and stump techniques on paper. The stump blending softens shadows and creates realistic flesh tones that show his early technical skill.

When did Degas create this?

Degas made this drawing in 1856 while studying in Italy. He was twenty-two and absorbing lessons from Renaissance masters before developing his signature subjects.

Where Is Head of a Young Roman Girl? Museum Location

Edgar Degas drew this portrait in 1856 during his formative years studying in Italy. The work, titled "Tête de jeune fille romaine" in French, captures a young Roman girl in a contemplative pose, gazing off to the side. Degas executed the piece using charcoal, pencil, and stump techniques, blending and softening the shading to create realistic flesh tones.

This early work predates the ballet scenes and Parisian subjects that would later make Degas famous. At twenty-two, he was absorbing the lessons of Italian Renaissance masters while developing the psychological insight that would distinguish his mature work. The textural contrast between softly rendered skin and crisper lines in the clothing shows his emerging technical sophistication.

The drawing measures 37.8 x 25.8 cm and is held at the Baltimore Museum of Art. It represents a rarely seen aspect of Degas's career, when he was building the draftsmanship skills that would underpin his later innovations.