Portrait of Bruno Chérier

The painter Bruno Chérier, who, like Carpeaux, was from Valenciennes, maintained what would prove to be a solid friendship with the sculptor, particularly during the more difficult phases of the latter’s life. While Chérier painted Carpeaux’s portrait, the sculptor modelled this bust of his friend (inscribed 'Souvenir fraternel offert à mon vieil ami Bruno Chérier, peintre. – Son compatriote: J.-B. Carpeaux, 1875'), which was met with great enthusiasm at the 1875 Salon. By sculpting his great friend in a totally informal situation, Carpeaux was able to show his abilities as a portraitist. He worked the main features of his face with great freedom, creating realistic effects and leaving signs of his individual technique, above all in the form of finger marks, but also through evidence of the tools that he used.
At the Atelier Carpeaux sale, Calouste Gulbenkian acquired the plaster original of this bust, which was the basis for the other versions in plaster and bronze.