  We present H-band observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC4696, the
brightest member of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies. We have measured its
light profile, using a two-dimensional fitting algorithm, out to a radius of
180 arcsec (37 h^{-1}_{70} kpc). The profile is well described by a de
Vaucouleurs law, with an effective radius of 35.3 +/- 1.0 h^{-1}_{70} kpc.
There is no need for the extra free parameter allowed by a Sersic law. Allowing
for a variation of 0.3% in the sky level, the profile obtained is compatible
with data from 2MASS. The profile shows no sign of either a truncation or an
extended halo.
