Head study of a young lady, possibly May Gaskell

This delicate and intimate portrait head probably dates to the 1880s. Whilst Burne-Jones frequently idealised his female sitters, the present drawing is clearly a portrait, with the sitter gazing directly out at the viewer. Helen Mary (May) Gaskell (1853-1940) was a member of the 'Souls', a group of aristocratic intellectuals among whom Burne-Jones mixed. She had a platonic but deeply intimate relationship with Burne-Jones, who wrote her up to six letters a day.

We are grateful to Charlotte Gere for suggesting the identity of the sitter.