Head of Mrs. John Peter Russell (Marianna Mattiocco della Torre) Possibly 1888

Auguste Rodin sculpted this bronze bust of Marianna Mattiocco della Torre, the wife of painter John Peter Russell. In late nineteenth-century France, the art world was evolving, with artists beginning to question traditional academic styles and the strictures of the Salon system. Rodin was at the forefront of this shift, challenging conventional notions of beauty and representation. His rough, expressive surfaces broke with the polished Neoclassical style that had dominated sculpture for generations. This work reflects the growing interest in capturing individual character and emotion. How does this portrait engage with or challenge the institutional norms of its time? Was Rodin attempting to democratize portraiture by focusing on the inner life rather than idealizing outward appearances? Answers to these questions can be found through the study of exhibition records, critical reviews, and the writings of Rodin and his contemporaries.