Head of a Bearded Old Man

Pajou created several character studies of old men, unconnected with other projects and not portraits. The present bust of a man in contemplation was probably made as an exercise in rendering human expressions. Such studies were modelled from life and depict a specific emotion, such as ‘despondency’ or ‘suffering’. They were seen as a test of skill and were a requirement for election to the Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris.