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The Nubian Man

The Nubian Man is a sculpture by Charles Cordier, made in 1848 with several known versions. It represents the bust of a young man from sub-Saharan Africa, more specifically Nubia, and was modeled on Seïd Enkess, also known as Saïd Abdallah. Cordier met him in 1847 and produced a plaster bust in just fifteen days, which he later exhibited at the Salon under a fuller title. One version was shown in Paris and then London at the 1851 Great Exhibition, where it attracted attention and was bought by Queen Victoria. The work reflects Cordier’s interest in abolitionist ideas and in the diversity of the wider world, and versions later entered French collections, including the museum in Le Havre.

The Nubian Man bronze sculpture shown in three-quarter view on a dark pedestal, with a textured beard, draped garment, and tied head covering.
The Nubian Man in bronze, shown in three-quarter view on a tiered pedestal.
© · Public domain
The Nubian Man, a dark bronze bust of a man wearing a draped garment and wrapped headcloth.
The Nubian Man in dark bronze, shown as a bust with a wrapped headcloth and draped garment.
October 2016 © · CC BY 3.0
The Nubian Man bronze bust with textured hair, a trimmed beard, and a draped garment.
The Nubian Man, a dark bronze bust with a patterned draped garment, displayed on a pedestal.
October 2012 © · CC0
The Nubian Man, a dark metallic bust with detailed hair, facial hair, and draped garments on a pedestal.
The Nubian Man sculpture shown as a dark metallic bust on a rounded pedestal.
June 2016 © · Public domain
The Nubian Man bronze sculpture of an adult male figure on a white pedestal, shown in three-quarter profile.
The Nubian Man, a dark-patinated bronze sculpture displayed on a white pedestal in a museum setting.
September 2012 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleThe Nubian
Original titleLe Nubien
Translated titleIl nubiano
TypeBust

Creator

ArtistCharles Cordier (1827–1905)
ModelSeïd Enkess, also called Saïd Abdallah
Model statusFreed Sudanese former slave and professional model in several Paris studios
Modeling time15 days
Related workLa Nubienne, the pendant of this bust

Historical context

Date of creation1847–1848
ContextCreated in the context of the 1848 abolition of slavery in the French colonies, abolitionist ideas, and growing European interest in African diversity and colonial exploration

Physical characteristics

MaterialPlaster

Appearance

ClothingDraped traditional garment
Head coveringVeil covering his hair
Facial hairShort curly beard
PoseHis head is slightly turned to his left
Depicted subjectA young man from Nubia in sub-Saharan Africa

History and restoration

Artistic titleSaïd Abdallah, of the Mayac tribe, kingdom of Darfur
VersionsSeveral versions of the bust were made
ExhibitionShown at the Salon of the French Artists a few months after it was sculpted
ExhibitionA bronze version was exhibited in Paris in 1851 and later in London at the International Exhibition
ReceptionThe London exhibition impressed Auguste Duméril, who admired "the black man of M. Cordier"
PurchaseQueen Victoria purchased one version
Acquisition by the French stateThe French state acquired one version of the bust and its pendant La Nubienne
Gallery contextPlaced in the gallery of the principal human types created in 1852 at the request of André Marie Constant Duméril and Étienne Renaud Augustin Serres
Later museum collectionFrom 1858, examples of these two works entered the collections of the Musée d'art moderne André-Malraux in Le Havre after an exhibition organized by the Société des amis des arts

Location and ownership

Museum locationAnthropology room of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris

Significance

Artistic impactThe success of the bust enabled Cordier to create other works portraying African subjects