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The Nubian Woman

The Nubian Woman was exhibited at the 1852 Salon. After being shown alongside its male pendant, Le Nubien, at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, a version of the bust was purchased by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The French state also acquired a version of the bust and its pendant for the anthropology room of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. In 1858, versions of these two works entered the collection of the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art in Le Havre, following an exhibition organized by the Society of Friends of the Arts. Other related versions include a bronze Nubienne with gilded earrings, called African Venus, at the Walters Art Museum, and a plaster head, Vénus africaine, at the Musée d’Orsay.

The Nubian Woman bronze bust of a woman with braided hair, hoop earrings, and a beaded necklace on a fluted pedestal.
The Nubian Woman, a dark bronze bust shown with braided hair, hoop earrings, and a textured drape over the shoulders.
© · Public domain
The Nubian Woman bronze bust with an elaborate coiled hairstyle and layered necklace.
The Nubian Woman in dark patinated bronze, shown as a bust with a detailed hairstyle and draped shoulders.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Nubian Woman bronze bust with braided hair, earrings, and a draped garment.
The Nubian Woman, a dark bronze bust with detailed braided hair, jewelry, and a draped garment.
July 2015 © Daderot · CC0
The Nubian Woman bronze bust with tightly coiled hair, a beaded necklace, and a draped garment across the chest.
The Nubian Woman bronze bust on display with its patterned drapery and beaded necklace visible.
October 2012 © · CC0
The Nubian Woman bust with braided hair, closed eyes, and a beaded necklace, shown in front of two smaller sculptural busts.
The Nubian Woman bust is shown with braided hair and a beaded necklace, with two other sculptural busts in the background.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleThe Nubian Woman
Artistic categoryAnthropological bust
Alternative title of other versionAfrican Venus
TypeBust

Creator

ArtistCordier

Iconography and meaning

Depicted subjectA young woman of Nubian, sub-Saharan African type
Pose / compositionUpper-body portrait showing the head, shoulders, and chest
HairFull of curly hair
JewelryNecklace and earrings
Symbolic meaning of jewelryIndicates freedom obtained
ShouldersBare
Chest coveringCovered by a garment with small decorations
Head coveringThe woman does not wear a veil over her head

Historical context

Interpretation / intentThe author's intention was to express the beauty and truth of the ethnicities encountered during his travels
Historical timing relative to abolitionThe acquisition took place ten years after the abolition of slavery in the French colonies
Historical context of Le HavreIn the 18th century Le Havre was a port city from which many Black slaves departed
Collection / series characterPart of a true 'ethnographic gallery' made up of anthropological busts
Later series subjectsSubsequent works portray inhabitants of places visited by the author, such as the Romana di Trastevere and the Young Woman of Morvan (a Gallic type)
Series groupingThe first groups, namely the two Nubians and the two Chinese, portray subjects the author met in Paris
Artist's reaction to modelThe young sculptor was struck by Seïd Enkess
Pendant counterpart subjectThe Nubien is a portrait of the former African slave Seïd Enkess
Companion pieceLe Nubien (male pendant)

History and restoration

Historical interpretation of Le Havre acquisitionThe city was deliberately confronting its own past
Acquisition context in Le HavreAfter an exhibition organized by the Society of Friends of the Arts
Entered collection at Le Havre1858
Intended location of French state purchaseAnthropology room of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris
Acquisition by French stateThe French state bought a version of the bust together with its pendant
Acquisition by Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria bought a version of the bust together with its male counterpart, Le Nubien
Exhibited together with pendantAt the 1851 Great Exhibition in London
First exhibitedSalon of 1852
Relationship of other related work to the sculptureIt reprises this subject

Location and ownership

Current location of Le Havre exampleMusée d'art moderne André Malraux, Le Havre
Other versionBronze version with gilded earrings
Location of other versionWalters Art Museum, Baltimore
Other related workPlaster head called Vénus africaine at the Musée d'Orsay

Materials

Material of other versionBronze

Physical characteristics

Additional feature of other versionGold hoop earrings (creoles)