Portrait of Rodin, 1905-1906
Bronze
Paul Troubetzkoy
Italian, 1866-1938
In this portrait of the artist in late middle age, Auguste Rodin confidently faces the viewer, his hands pushed into his pockets as he leans his weight on his rear right leg. The artist, Prince Paul Troubetzkoy, was the son of an aristocratic Russian diplomat and American opera singer. He gained recognition for his society and artists’ portraits, like that of his friend of many years
Rodin. Troubetzkoy’s sculptures had a sketchy quality that was akin to what the Impressionists were doing in painting.
Gift of B. Gerald Cantor Art Foundation, M.90.54
Visual Description: This is a bronze sculpture showing the artist Rodin as a middle-aged, portly man. The sculpture is almost two feet tall and the bronze gives it a deep brown color with a rusty red and green patina. Troubetzkoy’s modeling gives a rough-textured, sketchy quality to the portrait of Rodin. Rodin is shown standing upright with his hands in his pockets. He has short hair as well as a mustache and long beard that reaches his chest. He is wearing a formal suit jacket and pants.
