Small Torso of Iris
modeled probably ca. 1906–9, cast ca. 1970
Medium
Bronze, black marble base
Dimensions
Overall (with base): 7 1/2 × 3 5/8 × 2 3/4 in. (19.1 × 9.2 × 7 cm); Height (without base): 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 1984
Accession Number
1984.364.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Auguste Rodin's *Small Torso of Iris*, modeled around 1906–9 and cast in bronze about 1970, captures the ethereal grace of Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger. This intimate sculpture, standing just over six inches tall without its sleek black marble base, exemplifies Rodin's late-career fascination with fragmented forms. Rather than full figures, he often sculpted torsos to emphasize raw emotion, movement, and the play of light on undulating surfaces, drawing from his Impressionist influences and classical antiquity. Crafted in bronze—a medium Rodin championed for its...
About the Artist
Auguste Rodin · 1840–1917
François Auguste René Rodin (1840-1917) stands as the founder of modern sculpture, transforming the art form from academic tradition into expressive modernism. Born into a working-class Parisian family, Rodin faced early rejection, failing three times to gain admission to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. This setback forced him to work as a craftsman for nearly two decades, though his 1875 tr...