Acquisition of Volubilis, by Alfred Boucher
In 2022, a major work by Alfred Boucher joined the collections of the Camille Claudel Museum: Volubilis. Following the resounding success of this subject at the 1896 Salon, the sculptor continued to use it in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. The 1.20-meter-high marble, acquired for the museum from the London gallery Bowman Sculpture, is one of the finest examples. This major acquisition completes the museum's reference collection of works by Alfred Boucher (now comprising 223 objects).
Volubilis depicts a female nude seated on a rock dotted with plants and flowers in relief, her legs draped in fabric. The pose is extremely graceful, the tilt of the head balances the twist of the knees and, despite the almost closed eyes, the viewer is drawn to following the gaze, led by the line of the left arm to the morning glory flower in her hand. Reflecting Alfred Boucher's style, this nude is a blend of idealization and naturalism: idealization of the smooth nude in polished marble, enhanced by the rough aspect of the rock and the suppleness of the drapery; naturalism of the tendons that stand out in the twisting neck, and that of certain bones visible under the skin, which give life to the body.
Volubilis was acquired with the support of the French State (Fonds national du patrimoine), the Grand Est Region (Fonds régional d'acquisition pour les musées), the Aube Département, the Friends of the Camille Claudel Museum and Jean-Eudes Maccagno.
