Tuesday: May 11

Rodin Museum - wait 'till you see what it's like inside!

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) was one of the world’s greatest artists. Auguste Rodin was the preeminent French sculptor of his time and one of the country’s most beloved artists. Often dubbed as one of the fathers of modern sculpture, Rodin’s works were highly realistic, unlike his predecessors, whose works were largely based on allegory and mythology. Rodin, however, was more than just a sculptor, though that is certainly the medium for which he is most well known. His sketches and paintings are also magnificent and play an important role in his growth as an artist.

The Rodin Museum pays tribute to him as one of the fathers of modern sculpture but Rodin's highly realistic work goes beyond that. The museum contains a staggering number of marble, bronze, plaster, wax, and terra cotta sculptures, ceramics, paintings, drawings, and works by other artists (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh) from his personal collection.

The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919 in the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds. Rodin used the Hôtel Biron as his residence from 1908, and subsequently donated his entire collection of sculptures (along with paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Pierre-Auguste Renoir that he had acquired) to the French State on the condition that they turn the building into a museum dedicated to his works.

The Musée Rodin contains most of Rodin's significant creations, including The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell. The gardens around the museum building contain many of the famous sculptures in natural settings. Behind the museum building is a small lake and casual restaurant. Additionally, the Metro stop, Varenne, features some of Rodin's sculptures on the platfor.

Rodin’s drawings are equally as mesmerizing as his sculptures. French art historian Claudie Judrin says that Rodin’s sketches were “constructed” and that he “drew as a sculptor but not for his sculpture”, his drawings being totally separate from his sculpted works.

Rodin also painted before he sculpted and many of these paintings are found at the Rodin Museum. It is said that he enjoyed copying Rubens and visitors will indeed find a number of Ruben-esque works at the museum. He was also fond of doing portraits of his family and friends.

Click here to see other pictures

Click here to see other pictures