CARPEAUX, Jean-Baptiste
(b. 1827, Valenciennes, d. 1875, Courbevoie)

Portrait of Charles Gounod

1873
Terracotta, height 64 cm
The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

Charles Gounod was a French composer famous for his operas, including Faust. The turn of the sitter's head and the delicate modeling give the sculpture a sense of vitality and spontaneity, as if it had been made in a single session. In fact, Gounod recalled that the bust required nearly fourteen sittings to complete.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.