Iris, Messenger of the Gods, first modeled 1890-1900, this cast 1966
Bronze
Auguste Rodin
French, 1840-1917
The sculpture of Iris, the messenger to the gods in classical mythology, may have been inspired by a similar, partial figure of Iris among the Parthenon marbles at the British Museum in London, a city Rodin frequently visited in the 1880s. With an acrobatic pose inspired by Rodin’s interest in dance, the artist had originally titled his work Woman with Spread Legs. The sculpture, which made its public debut in 1898, shocked the public with its overt sexuality, but also proved to be popular with collectors.
Gift of B. Gerald Cantor Art Foundation, M.73.108.11
Visual Description: This is a bronze sculpture of a nude woman in an acrobatic pose. The figure is missing her left arm and head. The statue is dark brown and is just over three feet tall. The figure is balanced on her left toe, her knee bent and turned outward. Iris grasps her right foot and has pulled her leg upward, nestling it underneath her arm and along her right side.
