Head of a Child

Head of a Child is an oil on canvas painting created by Jacques Louis David. Though David (1748-1825) is the preeminent master of French Neoclassicism, celebrated primarily for his grand historical compositions, this smaller, intimate study showcases his profound skill in observational portraiture and anatomical precision. Executed during the extensive period of David’s professional activity, the work focuses exclusively on the visage of a young subject, emphasizing the rigorous academic training characteristic of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

The painting offers a sensitive depiction of children, emphasizing a move away from highly idealized figures toward realistic rendering. David’s treatment of the subject suggests the function of a tête d’expression (expressive head study), often used by academic artists as preparation for complex figures within larger historical narratives. Even standing alone, however, the piece holds strong visual interest. The expert handling of light and shadow defines the delicate curvature of the cheeks and illuminates the sitter’s expression, creating a powerful sense of presence despite the small scale of the canvas.

This exceptional example of David’s preparatory work and portrait technique is permanently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. As a significant document of European academic painting and a nuanced study of childhood, the image holds important historical value. Its status and age ensure that this particular work, along with many others from David, is available in the public domain, making high-quality art prints and reproductions accessible globally for research and appreciation.