Image
Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier
African Venus, ca. 1851
Description
Maker
- Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier, 1827-1905, French
Title
African Venus
Year
ca. 1851
Medium
Bronze with silver and gold patination
Materials/Techniques
Dimensions
-
51.1 x 21.6 x 16.5 cm (20 1/8 x 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches)
Type
Credit
-
Jesse Metcalf Fund
Object Number
-
1995.013
About
Modeled from life in the artist’s studio in Paris, this sculptural bust of a woman would have appealed predominantly to European audiences drawn to exoticized representations of other cultures. The model’s heavy-lidded eyes, parted lips, and lightweight drapery reinforce such stereotypes, but the realism and pose create a strong impression of individuality and dignity.
Cordier’s sculptures often incorporated colored stone and precious metal finishes. Here, warm skin tones are evoked by the use of a fine silver patina over the bronze cast.
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Projects & Publications
Publications
Exhibition History
Exhibition History
Use
The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is African Venus with the accession number of 1995.013. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.
Feedback
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