Head of a Girl, probably a portrait of Mary Constable

Head of a Girl, probably a portrait of Mary Constable, painted around 1806 and held at the V&A, is thought to depict Constable’s sister Mary. The intimate portrait study demonstrates Constable’s competent handling of the human figure, though portrait painting never became his primary focus. The painting’s personal subject and modest scale suggest it was a family work rather than a professional commission. The V&A’s collection of Constable family-related works provides insight into the personal world behind his landscape paintings.

The portrait is painted with warm, sensitive flesh tones and a soft focus that suggests intimate familiarity with the sitter. The background is kept deliberately plain to focus attention on the face, which is modeled with subtle chiaroscuro.

This portrait study from about 1806 is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The painting demonstrates Constable's portrait abilities, which he considered secondary to his landscape work but practised throughout his early career. The small canvas has been stabilized and cleaned. The flesh tones are well-preserved. The work provides evidence of Constable's ability as a portraitist.