Study of a Head

John Thomson 1835 - 1878

Summary

Three-quarter left side head and shoulders portrait of a young woman with long auburn wavy hair, in blue velvet dress with a white lace collar and pendant necklace. Her body is turned toward the viewer, but her head is turned to the left. There is a mottled, blue background.

Display Label

Market Street on a Saturday afternoon, is a sea of faces: young, old, many colours, many races. Most Manchester faces from our collection are portraits of industrialists, members of Parliament, Lord Mayors ... not many show workers or women, or represent the city's increasing cultural mix. A variety of portraits are displayed here showing people with interesting stories to tell. We have asked a contemporary artist to redress the balance, to give another view that celebrates the diversity of Manchester today.