Many consider Auguste Rodin to be the greatest sculpture since the Renaissance. It’s a point that’s hard to argue with as Rodin was a highly imaginative and successful artist, still well known a century after his death.
Probably the best place to see his work and learn more about his life is in Paris’ Rodin Museum. Most pieces in the Museum’s collection are located within the Hôtel Biron, a classic 18th-century mansion, very close to Les Invalides (where Napoleon’s tomb is located). To a large extent the Rodin Museum is park-like, with seven beautifully landscaped acres dotted with sculptures by Rodin. It’s a lovely relaxing place to be, within the heart of the city but removed from the busy hustle and bustle of Paris.
(Rodin Museum Portrait of Rodin by Antoine Bourdelle)
(John Singer Sargent’s Portrait of Rodin)
The museum is home to Rodin’s antiques and paintings from his personal collection, including these rare Van Gogh works…
(Van Gogh’s ‘The Blue Train’)
(Van Gogh’s portrait of Pere Tanguy)
(Van Gogh’s ‘The Harvesters’)
And, of course, the museum has many of the important works from his life, including the smaller models he crafted when he developed his best know pieces, like…
The Cathedral
(Monument to Victor Hugo)
(Some of Rodin’s Balzac work)
(A favorite of mine, Girl in a Flowered Hat)
(Torso of a Young Woman with Arched Back)
Rodin first visited the Hôtel Biron in 1908 and fell in love with the building and its grounds. It was poorly maintained then and owned by the French state as a place to board poor artists and performers. For three years, Rodin rented four of the ground-floor rooms for his studio. In 1911 the government announced plans to demolish the mansion; Rodin fought to save the building. He offered to leave his entire estate (including his furniture and art collection) to the French people IF they would permanently house it at the Hôtel Biron, and IF he could live here for the rest of his life. The Musée Rodin opened in 1919, two years after Rodin’s death.
The interior of the museum is recently renovated (a process just begun when we visited), the museum is light and cheerful, as illustrated in the above photo, which was also our most recent One Clue Mystery photo (successfully recognized by George G). Below is the same grouping of sculptures viewed from a different perspective.
The Hôtel Biron spreads across eighteen rooms which are more or less chronologically arranged. You’ll see the space where Rodin lived, still with its original furniture. There are many rooms devoted to Rodin’s genius and work, and even one dedicated to the his student and mistress, Camille Claudel. One of the most moving pieces in the collection is by Ms Claudel, entitled “The Age of Maturity”, seen in the following three photos.
After touring the Hôtel Biron, be sure to stroll through the gardens and enjoy Rodin’s outdoor works, including some of his best know pieces….
(The Thinker)
(Monument to Balzac)
(The Three Shades)
The above piece is The Gates of Hell, which some regard as the artist’s finest work. It has many details to it, some of which are quite familiar.
We enjoyed the half day we explored this Museum and grounds. A very recommended attraction.
I’d love to see photos of the rooms where Rodin lived, if you have some DrF. It’s been over 30 years since I visited the museum and only remember the garden.
A reminder of how differently each of us sees a place.
Unfortunately I did not photograph Rodin’s bedroom, PM.
No question about it. I was definitely focused on the art.