Girl in a Straw Bonnet
ca. 1868–70
Medium
Terracotta with wood base
Dimensions
Overall without base (confirmed): H. 32 1/2 x W. 22 1/8 x D. 15 1/2 in. (82.6 x 56.2 x 39.4 cm); Height on base: 36 1/8 in. (91.8 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Wrightsman Fund, 1987
Accession Number
1987.87
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Girl in a Straw Bonnet** (ca. 1868–70) is a captivating terracotta sculpture by French artist Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, a leading figure in 19th-century Parisian sculpture. Created during the Second Empire, this life-sized bust captures the innocent charm of a young girl wearing a simple straw bonnet, evoking the everyday fashion and tender portraits popular in the era. Carrier-Belleuse, renowned for his realistic yet elegantly refined style blending neoclassicism with emerging realism, skillfully modeled the terracotta to highlight the texture of the bonnet's straw, the softness of her features, and subtle emotional expression. Terracotta, a versatile and malleable clay medium fired at low temperatures, allowed Carrier-Belleuse to achieve rich earthy tones and fine details directly in the artist's hand—often a preparatory step before bronze casting, but here celebrated as a finished work. Standing over 32 inches tall on its wood base, the sculpture exemplifies the period's fascination with intimate, character-driven portraits, bridging decorative arts and fine sculpture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department, this piece reflects Paris's vibrant artistic scene, where Carrier-Belleuse influenced contemporaries like Rodin. It invites visitors to appreciate the humanity in humble subjects, a hallmark of French 19th-century genius.
About the Artist
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse · 1824–1887
Comment on works: sculptor