Modeled in plaster c. 1907-1908; cast in bronze c. 1920

Head of Coco

French, 1841 - 1919

Although 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.