Auguste Rodin

The thinker, 1902, by Rodin is one of his most well-known works. The Rodin museum is one of my favourite museums (musea?). Situated near the Invalides, in Rodin’s old house, in the middle of a huge garden by Paris standards, it has long been one of our favourite strolls. The B&W pictures I took in February 1981 with my trusted Asahi-Pentax.

Mirror, mirror, who’s the fairest? The museum had been closed for a few years for renovation. Re-opened in 2016 when the colour photos were taken. With my – now – trusted Iphone.

A very classic Rodin “expression”. His capture/rendering of movement was unique. 1981.

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). He was 12 when Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte made his “coup” and became Napoléon III. He died in 1917, before the end of WWI, not knowing whether the war would be won. He witnessed dramatic changes in the world. He is now considered the “father” of modern sculpture. I would put Maillol in the same league though.

Portrait of Rose Beuret, by Rodin. (Rose was Rodin’s mistress. Thanks to Gilles Labruyère for the info). As so many artists, Rodin was at ease with a hammer and chisel, or a brush and easel.

Rodin’s house – and museum. 2016. It is quite a beautiful house. And garden.

Mother and child. Rodin’s gardens. 1981. That baby is pushing 40.

Mother and child, Rodin museum. I don’t think this is Rodin’s work. Too academic. Looks more like a late 19th century government commission. “Mother teaching her child to read” or something like that.

“Who’s the prettiest baby in the world?” Even in February, the garden is often used by young parents to take their children out in a pram. (Or stroller?).

Young girl by Rodin.

Eustache de Saint-Pierre, one of the six “Bourgeois” of Calais. During the 100 years war, the English put the city of Calais under siege in 1346. After nearly a year, the city begged to surrender. Edward III, the English King, asked for six men to be delivered to him to be executed. Burghers. One would now say “middle class”. Eustache de Saint-Pierre volunteered first, followed by other five. Their death was the condition to spare the lives of all inhabitants of the city.

The six men came out of the city, in “chemise” (robe) barefoot, with a rope around their neck to be hanged, carrying the keys of the city and the castle. Walking bravely to certain death.

Philippa de Hainaut, the Queen consort, interceded in favour of the six burghers.

Study of one of the six burghers. Edward III, at Philippa’s request, granted their life to the six men.

The burghers were saved. Calais, as much of France, remained under English rule from 1346 until 1558. Today, Calais is the focus point of hundreds, even thousands of migrants who want to cross the Channel to the UK. Her Majesty’s Government pays the French government millions of Euros a year, to keep the migrants on French soil.

“Les bourgeois de Calais” is considered one of Rodin’s masterpieces.

To be continued…