L'HOMME AU NEZ CASSé

THIS WORK PORTRAYS BIBI, AN OLD MAN WHO CLEANED THE STUDIO AT THE ATELIER CARRIER-BELLEUSE IN THE FAUBOURG ST. MARCEL AND SOMETIMES MODELLED FOR THE STUDENTS. SHORTLY AFTER RODIN FINISHED THE HEAD THE PLASTER CRACKED LEAVING ONLY THE FACE INTACT. HE NAMED THE PEICE L'HOMME AU NEZ CASSé AND SUBMITTED IT TO THE SALON OF 1864 WHERE IT WAS REJECTED. RODIN CONSIDERED IT HIS FIRST MAJOR WORK, HOWEVER, AND LATER RESTORED THE ORIGINAL VERSION, EXHIBITING IT IN PLASTER AT THE BRUSSELS SALON OF 1872 AND IN MARBLE AT THE PARIS SALON OF 1875.