Head of a Girl in a Hat and Feathers

Hunt's divisionist technique, building form from primary colours, also seen in the work of J M W Turner, prefigures the Neo-Impressionists, such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac.  This well-known watercolour is a fine example: close study of the face, for example, reveals careful application of minuscule juxtaposed dabs of primary colours to achieve the skin tones and hues. By contrast, Hunt cleverly applied thin white washes over the hat to convey the texture of velvet.  

This watercolour was probably lot number 278 in the second day's sale of Hunt's works at Christie's, 17th May 1864.

Hunt appears to have roughly torn the watercolour to make the subject more central. The work has now been mounted with a rectangular aperture, as he probably intended it to be seen.