On the first Sunday of each month, all museums on the National Estate offer free admission. Given it was the best weather day we have had to date, we chose the indoor and outdoor Musée Rodin.
Paul had been keen to visit the Rodin since our first trip in 1998, but I'm not that keen on sculpture so we had let it slip off the list - until now.
I wish I had written the following summary but alas not - I pinched it!
"Today, Rodin is acclaimed as the father of modern sculpture, but in a different era, his work was labelled obscene. The world's artistic taste changed, and in due course, in 1911, the French government purchased Rodin's studio in the grey-stone, 18th C mansion in the Faubourg St-Germain. The government restored the rose gardens to their 18th C splendour, making them a perfect setting for Rodin's most memorable works."
In the courtyard between the restored monastery (above) and the mansion, there are three world famous creations. "Perhaps the single best-known work, The Thinker who, in Rodin's words "thinks with every muscle of his arms, back and legs, with his clenched fist and gripping toes"; Rodin's first major public commission, The Burghers of Calais, commemorating the heroism of six citizens of Calais in 1347 and The Gates of Hell, depicting Dante's Inferno."
While the external works are all cast in bronze, Rodin also worked in marble. Those sections of the mansion that normally house the marbles are under renovation and the marbles have been temporarily moved to the old monastery. Unfortunately photographs were not allowed, but believe me, the marbles were truly beautiful. Go onto the websiite link below to see The Kiss.
The Thinker in the restored rose garden. The roses bore tags to identify them: many were hybridised in the early 1800s. They must be glorious in flower.
Thinking with all the muscles of his back and legs.
Fighting the crowds for a clear shot.
View of the garden and lawn from the southern terrace of the mansion.
The gardens were full of bronzes as well as keen photographers.
This is a tribute to Victor Hugo.
I thought it was fascinating because we had been to the House of Victor Hugo museum a few days prior.
The Musée Rodin is in the street next to Invalides and whenever you look in that direction you see the dome of Napoleon's Tomb towering in the western sky.
Looking back across the lawn to the mansion.
Listening to the excellent audiophone.
Inside the mansion were the smaller bronzes and the plaster-work. Believe me, you can't tell the difference between plaster and stone. This was Rodin's representation of The Republic, not at all popular at the time, but revered now.
This is the plaster model of The Kiss which was eventually produced in marble. Hard to get good pics in here: too many people, too much refection and too many grubby fingerprints. Have a look at this on-line.
All of the big, external sculptures began life as smaller pieces like The Thinker.
It is indeed a grand mansion.
Rodin's first major public commission The Burghers of Calais.
Can't remember the name of this one. But is was created to top the Gates of Hell.
The Gates of Hell - Dante's Inferno. This young lady wouldn't move so she has now been sent across the world.
Paul & Viv,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog posting, I particularly like sculpture so we loved the Rodin museum. We bought a reproduction piece of The Kiss we liked it so much and we have that in our living room to remind us of the visit. When Courtney was younger she used to turn it around as she thought it was rude and did not want to look at it.
Did you notice the sculpture in the middle of the pond at the rear of the lawns area? We wondered what that was about and we were somewhat horrified when we read what it was of.
http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/collections/sculptures/ugolino-and-his-children
You are clearly having a fantastic time.
Regards,
Phillip & Paula