Malvina Hoffman: Rodin's Last Student

March 8 - November 16, 2008

Malvina Hoffman in Red Cross uniform, World War II

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 of more than 30 works by Hoffman from the Museum's collection is on display through November 16, 2008.

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