Mignon
European Art
On View:
Mignon is the first of Rodin’s portraits of Rose Beuret, a seamstress he met in 1864 who became his studio helper, the mother of his son Auguste-Eugène, and his lifelong companion—despite the artist’s inability to remain faithful to her. They married only in 1917, the year they both died, she of pneumonia, and he several months later from complications of a stroke.
The title of this lively and informal portrait may refer to an 1866 opéra comique of the same name by Ambroise Thomas, based on a character in Goethe’s 1796 novel Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
1870; cast 1966
DIMENSIONS
16 1/4 x 11 7/8 x 10 1/8in. (41.3 x 30.2 x 25.7cm)
mount (dimensions as installed): 22 1/2 × 12 × 11 3/4 in. (57.2 × 30.5 × 29.8 cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
Back, proper right shoulder: ".Georges Rudier./Fondeur. Paris."
Back, proper left shoulder, lower edge: "© by Musée Rodin 1966"
SIGNATURE
Proper left shoulder: "A. Rodin"
Interior, lower front edge, raised plate: "A. Rodin"
ACCESSION NUMBER
85.173.2
CREDIT LINE
Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Mignon, 1870; cast 1966. Bronze, 16 1/4 x 11 7/8 x 10 1/8in. (41.3 x 30.2 x 25.7cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 85.173.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 85.173.2_bw_SL3.jpg)
EDITION
Edition: 4/12
IMAGE
overall, 85.173.2_bw_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
Who is she?
Mignon is the first portrait that Rodin created of his long-time partner and eventual wife, Rose Beuret. He met her in 1864, six years before this work was created, when she was still a seamstress. Beuret posed for Rodin many times. You can see the likeness of Rodin and Beuret's son, Auguste Beuret, very likely used on the burgher Andrieu d'Andres.
Where can other busts or statues by Rodin of his companion, Rose Beuret, be found? This is such a striking depiction of the woman he loved.
There is a plaster bust of Rose Beuret at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Did Rodin ever sculpt his son, Auguste-Eugene?
I cannot find any evidence that he sculpted his son, but I wouldn't be surprised to know he did.
Thank you!