European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection Head of Coco Made in France, EuropeModeled in plaster c. 1907-8; cast in bronze c. 1920 Pierre-Auguste Renoir, French, 1841 - 1919. Bronze cast by C. Valsuani. Bronze Currently not on view 1950-92-47 Bequest of Lisa Norris Elkins, 1950 |
LabelAlthough primarily a painter, Renoir also was interested in sculpture. He often visited the Musée du Louvre to admire ancient and Renaissance sculpture. In his sixties, Renoir tackled sculpture for the first time, modeling with his own hands the portrait of his youngest son, Claude (nicknamed Coco), first as a medallion, then as a bust. These fresh and somewhat naive works were for his personal pleasure only; he did not exhibit or sell them. |
