His First Journey

Bessie Potter Vonnoh American
 Cast by Roman Bronze Works

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774

"His First Journey" reveals the delight and pride of a baby as he pushes himself up on his hands to begin inching across a blanket. Although Vonnoh did not include an adult figure in the composition, the baby’s triumph at learning to crawl is palpably shared by an onlooker, whose presence is indicated by the upward glance and broad grin on the infant’s face. This statuette was among the artist’s most popular interpretations of childhood: there were about thirty-nine documented lifetime bronzes. The Museum’s cast is marked “No. X.”

His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American

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His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American
His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American
His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American
His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American
His First Journey, Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, St. Louis, Missouri 1872–1955 New York), Bronze, American

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