Artist Birthdays- Auguste Rodin

 Art, Art Shows by Location, Artists, Cleveland, Ohio Art Shows, Sculptors / Sculpture
Nov 122025
 

Auguste Rodin‘s The Thinker was originally conceived to be a part of The Gates of Hell, his sculptural group depicting a scene from Dante Alighieri‘s Inferno, but several larger bronze versions were created later. This version was installed outside the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1917. It is one of less than ten created under Rodin’s supervision.

This particular version of The Thinker also has an interesting history. In 1970, a pipe bomb was planted at the base of the statue and the resulting explosion damaged the work. The perpetrators remain a mystery to this day.

“True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg

 Art, Art Shows by Location, Artists, Florida Art Shows, Painting / Painters, Pinellas County, Quotes, Sculptors / Sculpture, St. Pete
Feb 132023
 

Auguste Rodin, “Monumental Head of Jean d’Aire”

Eternal Spring

Currently at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg is True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism. The exhibition includes nearly 40 of his sculptures and presents them alongside Impressionist paintings by his contemporaries.

The curation of the show by Stanton Thomas really creates an exceptional experience for attendees. The large works, along with the paintings, are given plenty of space to be appreciated. While there is a power to seeing these larger than life works, the smaller ones, like Eternal Spring, pictured above, are also captivating.

In one room, on a single wall, is the facade of the building that would become the Musée Rodin. It is there to give both a sense of scale and to remind visitors that most of Rodin’s sculptures were intended for public spaces. Quotes by the Rodin, including one on beauty and character, along with film footage and photographs, add depth to the show as well.

This exhibition closes 3/26/23.