Male Torso, Spirit of the Dance

Attributed to: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, French, 1827–1875
Date: c.1870–75
Material: Terracotta
made in: France, Europe
Classification: Sculpture
Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art
Current Location: On View, Gallery 207
Dimensions: 22 7/8 x 17 1/2 x 11 3/4 in. (58.1 x 44.5 x 29.8 cm)
Credit Line: Museum Purchase
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 67:1937

NOTES

In this work, the allegorical figure of Dance has the joyful, playful expression characteristic of this artist’s style. The sculpture is terra cotta (or baked clay) and one of several casts in this medium made by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and his studio for commercial distribution. Particularly notable is the energetically modeled, snake-like hair. Carpeaux was the leading academic sculptor of Second Empire France.

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