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Penelope
BOURDELLE, Émile-Antoine (1861 - 1929)
(Amgueddfa Cymru regrets that we are not able to provide an image for this item at this time. This is either due to copyright restrictions, or the item is awaiting digitisation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.)
Date: 1909
Media: bronze
Size: 119.1 cm
Acquired: 1970; Purchase
Accession Number: NMW A 2420
Born in Montauban, Bourdelle studied in Toulouse and Paris, where he became Rodin's assistant. After his first one-man show in 1905 he achieved widespread recognition. This is one of an edition of 9 intermediate-size bronzes of this subject. It depicts Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, awaiting the hero's return from Troy. The body derives from a study of Cleopatre Sevastos, a Greek sculptress, looking at Hindu sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The head is that of the artist's wife Stephanie.
Work not on display
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