Man with a Broken Nose, Finest US Lost Wax Bronze Sculpture Statue Signed Rodin

Description

By Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)

Rodin considered The Man with the Broken Nose to be his first major work. He began the portrait in 1863, intending to submit it to the Paris Salon as his debut. He hired Bibi, a neighborhood handyman, to model for him. He was drawn to Bibi’s rough features and wanted to depict him as he was — broken nose and all. He combined these ‘unbeautiful’ features with some of the conventions of Greek sculpture: blank eyes and Classically modeled hair. Despite the combination, in the end the piece’s expressive naturalism outshines the idealism of Classical sculpture. This representation of a man with a broken nose is a cast of one of Rodin’s first sculptures. Rodin modeled a clay bust of Bibi’s head and neck. During the exceptionally cold winter that followed, the clay model froze and the back of the head fell off. Although Rodin later reconstructed the head, he also preserved the mask-like version and made several bronze casts of it. Its appearance of age and fragmentation evoke comparisons with the ancient Greek and Roman sculpture that the artist had admired throughout his life. Dimensions: 11’H x 6″L. Please specify finish when ordering: Dark brown or verdigris.

This statue is reproduced in the finest American bronze by the superior lost wax process, finished in multi-color patinas and then hand-rubbed to bring out the awesome detail and highlights. The statue is then mounted on a fine black or green marble base with an etched brass plate bearing the name of the bronze and the artist.