The Musée Rodin was established in 1919. This museum is fully dedicated to the works of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It has two sites: the Hotel Biron, and Villa des brillants. The former is located at the center of Paris, whereas the latter is located at Meudon. For a tourist seeking an interesting place to visit, Villa des brillants is actually a good alternative to the better known Hotel Biron.
The Idea Of Escape
Auguste Rodin was heartbroken after he broke up with his lover Camille Claudel. In 1893 Rodin moved to his new home, Villa des Brillants, so as to escape this feeling of rejection. This was his last home. In 1917, Rodin died at this place while at the peak of his artistic splendor.
La Villa des Brillants was a modest looking brick-and-stone style house which was built on top of a hill in Meudon. You could also see the statue of “The Thinker” topping the tomb of Rodin and his wife Rose Beuret in Meudon.
This house was very busy with workers during Rodin’s days. Rodin had employed almost 50 workers there, which include his assistants, casters, and other workers. La Villa des Brillants was like a second workshop to Rodin.
House In Meudon
There are no bronze sculptures here, but the place is full of sculptures made using plaster. In addition to this, you wouldn’t be able to find much furniture here, other than a table and a small bed upstairs, but you could see many antiques that come in a variety of sizes. Many of his friends and admirers from France and abroad visited him at this place; one of these was King Edward VII of England.
This place was renovated in 1997. One of the main highlights of this museum is the studio, filled with plaster castings of his statues and the garden where he used to meditate. There is a dining room decorated with photos which give you an idea of the sculptor’s life here with his wife. He married Rose Beuret towards the end of his life.
At the museum you can see here today, the large building with huge arched windows incorporates the château’s façade. This was constructed in order to replace the original museum that was dismantled in 1931 due to safety issues.