Jules Bastien-Lepage - Augustus Saint-Gaudens

Gift of Sara Hallowell

American Art European Art Modern Art Sculpture

"Jules Bastien-Lepage" by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (Modeled 1880, cast 1881) Copper with bronze patina.

Commentary

"Jules Bastien-Lepage" by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (Modeled 1880, cast 1881) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. Because the work is spatial, changes in viewpoint and light can noticeably alter its emotional impact . Themes to notice include Realism, sculpture. This piece is held in the source collection's Arts of the Americas collection. Augustus Saint-Gaudens is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Augustus Saint-Gaudens (American, born Ireland, 1848–1907) Cast by Magee Furnace Company Chelsea, Massachusetts. The work is cataloged within a Paris cultural context. It is associated with the Realism period. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as sculpture, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Copper with bronze patina) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (37.2 × 27 cm (14 5/8 × 10 5/8 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include Realism, sculpture. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/63171

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data