La petite Châtelaine

Camille Claudel modeled the bust of La Petite Châtelaine―a work that was particularly admired by Claude Debussy―in 1892, at the Château de l’Islette near Azay-le-Rideau in the Touraine region of France, where she and Rodin often spent time together. This is where the young sculptress created her now-famous portrait of the six-year-old granddauughter of the château’s owner. The little girl posed for almost 62 hours in all.

Obediently, almost transfixed, the child looks up to watch the sculptress at work. Her sweet face is touchingly childlike, with full cheeks, parted lips and an innocent but fervent expression. Camille Claudel made four marble versions of this bust in 1895-96, the differences lying mainly in the rendering of the hair: tied tightly or loosely in a straight or curved braid, or left loose but crimped from braiding. This work delighted the critics, who praised the portrait for its harmony and the sculptress for her rigorous technique.

The artwork in the museum

Permanent collections – first floor, Room 16

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