Malvina Hoffmin: Rodin's Last Student

Wednesday, January 06, 2010; 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

In 1910, the young sculptress Malvina Hoffman (1885-1966) arrived at the door of French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) with a letter of introduction. After five attempts by Hoffman to meet the master, Rodin immediately agreed to take her on as a pupil upon seeing photographs of two of her works. What followed was a rewarding relationship between one of the greatest sculptors of all time and his last student. Hoffman went on to a successful career as a sculptor, perhaps most famous for her 100 sculptures for the Chicago Field Museum's Hall of Man.

In 1985 and 1986, the CRMA received a large number of plaster and bronze works by Malvina Hoffman. In 2003, Hoffman's magnificent Bacchanale Frieze was permanently installed in the Museum's Carnegie Wing. A substantial exhibition of her work, however, hasn't happened for some time. This exhibition includes more than 30 works by Hoffman from the Museum's collection.