The Ambiance of Medardo Rosso: Impressions, Critics, and Patrons

Taking its cue by the presentation of two previously rarely seen wax sculptures by Medardo Rosso depicting two child's heads - Enfant au Soleil and Enfant juif - the essay investigates the notion of "ambiance", a term which was applied in the art field first on the occasion of the initial efforts to render Rosso's unique sculptural vision in words. By focusing on the etymology and history of the word "ambiance", the essay sheds light on the revolution that Rosso introduced in the language of sculpture, by taking its possibilities to express the atmosphere to the fullest extent. In the second part of the essay, I focus on the one-of-a-kind figure of an early patron and enthusiastic supporter of Rosso, the British philosopher and collector Charles Meek. By reconstructing his figure and network of connections, I bring back to life a key, yet never studied before, episode in the international reception and interpretation of Rosso's art.