Auguste Rodin(1840 - 1917) |
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| 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) |
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| In some respects, Rodin spent his life communicating
with women and adoring women. His greatest admirers and scholars were
female. 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. |
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| 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. |
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| In Paris, just around the corner from the Hotel d'Invalides, is the Hotel Biron. This Musée 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. |  |
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| 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. |  |
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| After 1900 much of his personal passion went into detailed pencil sketches of his model lovers. His famous passionate sculpture from this period seems to be designed primarily for its popular appeal. |  |
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| 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. |  |
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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. |
