Vanity

Copied Charles Louis Hinton, Vanity, 1915, bronze, 26 1223 128 12 in. (67.259.721.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1952.5.1

Artwork Details

Title
Vanity
Date
1915
Dimensions
26 1223 128 12 in. (67.259.721.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure female — nude
  • Figure female — full length
  • Allegory — quality — vanity
  • Object — furniture — mirror
Object Number
1952.5.1

Artwork Description

This allegory has been a popular subject in literature and art dating back to the Middle Ages. Vanity personifies all the temptations and self-serving pleasures of the world. In Charles Louis Hinton’s version, the idealized figure has been replaced with a naturalistic, female nude. She turns her head and leans slightly back to look at her reflection. Her vanity is evident in her sensual, studied pose, which exudes beauty and self-confidence.