|
|
Auguste Rodin
(1840 - 1917)
|
|
This is an incomplete obsolete version.
Please update your links, Browser Favorites and Bookmarks.
|
Following, you will find a general view of the Gates along with three close-up views from the side panels.
(These photos were taken at Stanford University). |
| (Please click on the small thumbnail photos to see the full effect) |
In some respects, Rodin spent his life communicating
with women and adoring women. His greatest admirers and scholars were
female.
He was an excellent speaker and communicator, despite not having earned a degree or masters in communications.
He emphasized sensual nature over reason. I think that the story of his long suffering and faithful wife -- Rose Beuret -- would make an
excellent movie or novel.
This sculpture shows Rose as young, proud and defiant warrior. |
 |
| From the viewpoint of Rodin's friends she was a
non-entity. A grey shadow serving meals and cleaning house; but she was
also the rock who stood by his side for more than 50 years. I have an
image in my mind of her loving attention as she bathed and maintained
Rodin's clay figures during the dark winters of war and rebellion
during the late 1800's. |
| Please visit the newer and more complete rodin.asp version of this page. |
| In Paris, just around the corner from the Hotel
d'Invalides, is the Hotel Biron. This Mus�e Rodin was the final
town home of Mr. Rodin. It contains his personal art collection which
included a few fine Van Gough's and several portraits of Rodin by other
artists. |
 |
 |
| One thing that struck me during my Year 2000 trip was that
"great art" can include pretty or mundane subjects. Surely some
of Rodin's sweet early work is just as "great" as his more
monumental later work. This marble Diane is from 1875 while
Madame Fenaille is an 1898 terra cotta. In his final years many
of his portraits seemed to have been created for money rather than
passion. |
 |
 |
| After 1900 much of his passion went into making detailed
pencil sketches of his model lovers. His famous passionate sculpture
from this period seems to be designed primarily for its popular appeal. |
 | |
| Please visit the newer and more complete rodin.asp version of this page. |
| My favourite Rodin sculpture is the Balzac in the
courtyard of The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia...
but these examples are the grounds of the Hotel Biron and a small copy at
Stanford. |
 |
 |
 |
The front of the British Parliament buildings is a
magnificent setting for the Burghers of Calais. An observer might wonder
of the feelings of the original French burghers who are now captured in
such an English setting. The scene portrayed in bronze captures the town burghers
as they surrendered to an invading English army. |
In San Francisco, the beautifully situated Palace of the Legion of Honor has an excellent collection. |
Their Rodins were mainly collected and donated by Adolph B. and Alma Spreckels. One shows the Three Shades
that are also found at the top of The Gates. |
In the collection is a standing St. John the Baptist Preaching. |
This is an incomplete obsolete version.
Please update your links, Browser Favorites and Bookmarks.
|
Corrections, useful comments and opinions are always welcome
but you really should be at my other
http://www.notsorry.com/rodin.asp page.
The content of this web site -- including this page, all the images and photos -- is Copyright © 2013 by Gregory Melle.
All publication rights are reserved.
