Sleeping Muse
<p>Brancusi sculpted his first “sleeping head” in 1907, and within three years had developed the tapered, egg-shaped form seen here, which he initially executed in marble. Placed on its side in an unconventional manner, yet in a way that feels natural to the subject of sleep, the sculpture imparts an essential poetry between the slumbering figure and the unencumbered way Brancusi chose to present its form. On one hand, the absence of a base suggests that the sculpture may have toppled over; on the other hand, it shows the muse in a posture of both physical and metaphorical rest, as if cheek to pillow.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1910
- Medium
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- 16.1 × 27.7 × 19.3 cm (6 5/16 × 10 7/8 × 7 9/16 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Constantin Brancusi
Artist
Sculpture
C onstantin Brâncuși was a revolutionary modern sculptor known for his sleek, abstract forms that redefined the boundaries of figurative sculpture. Discover Brâncuși’s biography, groundbreaking artistic techniques, and the lasting impact of his iconic works held in major museum collections and top auction results worldwide.
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More by Constantin Brancusi
Bird in Space
1941 · Bronze 6' (182.9 cm) high, on two-part stone pedestal 17 3/8" (44.1 cm) high
Untitled (Endless Column)
1937 · Gelatin silver print
Untitled
1934 · Gelatin silver print
Untitled (self-portrait in the studio with Endless Columns I, III, III and Fish)
1933 · Gelatin silver print
Untitled (View of the Studio with Endless Columns III and IV, The Fish, Leda, and Cup II)
1933 · Gelatin silver print
Blond Negress II
1933 · Bronze 15 3/4" (40 cm) high, on four-part pedestal of marble 3 5/8" (9.1 cm) x 3 3/4" (9.4 cm) in diameter, limestone 9 7/8 x 14 5/8 x 14 1/8" (25 x 37.1 x 36.2 cm), and two oak sections (carved by the artist) 7 3/8 x 14 3/8 x 14 1/4" (18.6 x 36.3 x 36.2) and 35 1/2 x 11 x 11" (90.2 x 28 x 28 cm), overall 71 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 14 1/2" (181 x 36.2 x 36.8 cm)
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Artist
- Constantin Brancusi
- Year
- 1910
- Medium
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- 16.1 × 27.7 × 19.3 cm (6 5/16 × 10 7/8 × 7 9/16 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1910-013283
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified