Artwork Page for Head of Beethoven

Details / Information for Head of Beethoven

Head of Beethoven

1891

Emile Antoine Bourdelle

(French, 1861–1929)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
bronze
Measurements
Overall: 59.2 x 42 x 52.1 cm (23 5/16 x 16 9/16 x 20 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Carrie Moss Halle in memory of Salmon Portland Halle 1960.82
Public Domain
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Location
218 European Sculpture
Print

Description

A pioneer of modern sculpture, Antoine Bourdelle studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and worked as an assistant to Augustin Rodin, who greatly admired the younger artist’s work. In 1888 Bourdelle produced the first of a series of sculptural portraits of Ludwig van Beethoven, in which the artist orchestrated powerful billowing shapes to convey the creative spirit or genius of the composer. The artist inscribed a quote from Beethoven in the lower left: “My domain is the air; when the wind rises my soul swirls.”

Head of Beethoven

1891

Emile Antoine Bourdelle

(French, 1861–1929)
France, 19th century

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