PAJOU, Augustin
(b. 1730, Paris, d. 1809, Paris)

Head of a Bearded Old Man

1761
Terracotta, height 64 cm
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Pajou created several character studies of old men, unconnected with other projects and not portraits. The present bust of a man in contemplation was probably made as an exercise in rendering human expressions. Such studies were modelled from life and depict a specific emotion, such as 'despondency' or 'suffering'. They were seen as a test of skill and were a requirement for election to the Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris.