Triton and Nereid

ca. 1886–93

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 800

This terracotta sketch of sensuously entwined sea deities reveals Rodin’s direct engagement with the subject of the female nude. The figure of Triton—caressing the Nereid’s voluptuously modeled torso—embodies the spirit of Rodin’s desire and veneration for the female body. The Met commissioned an over-life-size marble version of this work, but Rodin never completed it.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Triton and Nereid
Artist: Auguste Rodin (French, Paris 1840–1917 Meudon)
Date: ca. 1886–93
Culture: French
Medium: Terracotta
Dimensions: Height (wt. on marble base, confirmed): 16 in., 33.7 lb. (40.6 cm, 15.3 kg)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1912
Object Number: 12.11.2
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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