Top model and actor Mariacarla Boscono covers the May 2026 issue of Vogue Italia [IG], styled by Imruh Asha in Acne Studios, Area, Balenciaga, Chanel, Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Maison Alaia, Mario Valentino, Sportmax and more.

Dutch photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] captures Boscono in Dior for the cover of Vogue Italia’s annual Art issue./ Hair by Olivier Schwalder; makeup by Daniel Sällström

Villa des Brillants Near Paris

The fashion shoot takes place in the countryside, at the Villa des Brillants, the house and studio of sculptor Auguste Rodin from 1893 to 1917. Rodin sought a peaceful refuge from Paris and originally rented the house with his lifelong companion Rose Beuret.

In 1895, Rodin bought the retreat from painter Delphine de Cool. As we dig deeper into the story, a different narrative appears. In the arena of the arts, many talented women have lived in the shadows of a famous man.

The relationship between Beuret and Rodin lasted 53 years, with the sculptor’s main muse marrying him two weeks before her death in 1917. Beuret bore Rodin one son August-Eugène Beuret, while Rodin himself was involved in multiple love affairs — most notably with the artist Camille Claudel.

Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin

In 1893, sculptor Camille Claudel sought to distance herself from Rodin, fully exasperated that art critics could only see ‘him’ in her work. Note that Rodin continued to discreetly support her both financially and in high places within the art world.

Claudel’s brother Paul began in 1893 a consular career first in America, working in New York City and Boston. In June 1895, Claudel left for Shanghai.

Even though the siblings were very close, it was in 1896 that Camille Claudel became more independent and able to support herself. She met the Countess de Maigret, who would became her main patron up until 1905.

The Mental Deterioration of Camille Claudel

In September 1896, Claudel instructed a mutual friend to convince Rodin to stop visiting her, for any reason. Not seeing the famous sculptor ever was the only way she could prove that he was not the visionary and creative inspiration behind her work.

The unjust nature of society’s refusal to treat her as a talented sculptor in her own right seems to have ravaged her mental state. On the other hand, we have no real knowledge of other events and influences that accelerated her decline.

Gradually, Camille Claudel’s physical and mental health worsened and she gradually lost her grip on reality. As she became increasingly prone to smash her wax models of work in process, and sometimes own sculptures, Camille Claudel sank deeper into mental illness.

In September 2014, the artist was confined to a mental hospital the Montdevergues asylum, as war was knocking at the door in Europe. Claudel remained there until her death in 1943.

Her brother Paul did organize an ongoing interest in her work before and after her death. But Rodin’s shadow of excellence continued to waft oppressively over her state of mind. The fact that he was alive nourished a mental nightmare living side by side with Claudel’s own creative impulse. As noted up front, Rodin continued to provide for her support, along with her brother and sales of existing art.

AOC can only assume that Carlin Jacobs knows this backstory and expresses the story through her fashion photography artistry.