The Musée Rodin in Paris is a museum dedicated to the works of the world-renowned sculptor, Auguste Rodin. His works are some of the most famous in the world. His works reflected realism and less of idealism unlike many of his contemporaries. He included a significant amount of human element in his works. Below are a few facts about the legendary artist and some of his iconic works that you can visit on your Rodin Museum tour.
Rodin Had Pretty Bad Eyesight
One of the pioneers of sculpture arts in the nineteenth century, Auguste Rodin, surprisingly, had pretty poor eyesight. He was affected by poor sight from a very young age. He was once asked to leave the French Army due to near-sightedness. It could be said that this shortcoming was what drove him to pursue arts on a more serious level. Since he could no longer serve the national service, he pursued his art.
He Was Fascinated by the British Museum
He was a big lover of the British Museum. The institution is famous for housing some of the most precious artifacts from centuries back. Rodin was excited about visiting the London-based museum and did so many times. It is said that the ancient Greek sculptures of the Parthenon had a profound impact on the works of Rodin.
He Didn’t Actually Carve His Marble Sculptures
Some of the most famous sculptures of the artist, such as The Kiss and The Thinker, are made of marble. However, the truth is that he never touched the marble figures. In fact, he carved out his subjects from clay and then passed them on to his assistants who cast these figures in marble or bronze.
The Thinker Was Initially a Part of a Door Frame
The bronze sculpture “The Thinker” is known as one of the greatest works that the sculptor has produced. The statue is now positioned in front of the Hôtel Biron, where the Musée Rodin is situated. The origin of the figure is a bit more humble though. It was initially placed as the centerpiece of a doorway that Rodin was assigned to complete for the Directorate of Fine Arts.
The Thinker is a representation of a scene from the poem Inferno by Dante. In this, the poet himself is portrayed as looking down on all the people who passed through the fiery gates.
The Couple in The Kiss Don’t Kiss
Another famous work by the artist, The Kiss, has a unique story behind it. It is also a scene from the Inferno. Although it creates an impression that the couple is kissing, they are actually not.