Rodin

Auguste Rodin (1840 – 1917), the French sculptor who heralded the modern age, will be celebrated in a major retrospective of his work at the Royal Academy of Arts. Ten chronological themes will reveal what inspired Rodin, from his studies of unposed models to his love of antiquities. Central to the exhibition will be an exploration of Rodin’s relationship with Britain, where he made his name as an international sculptor. The Gates of Hell and The Thinker will feature amongst some 200 pieces of the highest quality, borrowed mainly from the Musée Rodin and the store at Rodin’s home, Meudon. A talented draughtsman, this exhibition will also present Rodin’s lyrical and erotic drawings, alongside photographs of the artist and his work. This will be the first major Rodin exhibition in Britain for 20 years and will include works that have never before been exhibited outside France.

The story of Rodin and Britain, the sub-theme of this exhibition, begins in 1882, when he exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Thanks to the championing of William Henley and the enthusiasm of early collectors like Constantine Ionides and Lord Leighton PRA, Rodin’s confidence grew, as did his profile in Britain. Interestingly Rodin experienced professional successes in Britain before he became an established artist in Paris. The visits and honours were renewed after 1900 when the founding collectors of the museums in Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and elsewhere bought work and Rodin was feted by the aristocracy and politicians who sat for their portraits. Rodin’s affinity with Britain was further affirmed in 1914, when he donated 18 works to the British Government, now housed in the V&A, 14 of which will be on display.

Rodin brought monumental public sculpture into the 20th century, breaking with traditional and classical sculpting methods. He also created smaller scale pieces and produced portraits of the likes of Victor Hugo. He would fluidly craft clay representations of moving models, from which a plaster copy would be taken and finally casts would be made. Following Rodin’s death in 1917, his works continued to be reproduced, leading to issues of quality. This exhibition will present works in marble, bronze and plaster, selected for their quality, the majority of which were made during Rodin’s lifetime.

Rodin’s interest in drawing sculpture started at an early age. Despite being rejected three times from the École des Beaux-Arts, Rodin persevered and took work as a decorative sculptor and ornamentalist. During the 1880s, Rodin’s career flourished. The French government commissioned a number of high profile public monuments, the first of which, The Gates of Hell, informed so much of his later sculpture. In 1917, the year of his death, Rodin married Rose Beuret, his partner of over 50 years. Throughout his life, Rodin had a series of lovers, most notably Augustus John’s sister, Gwen and fellow sculptor Camille Claudel.

The opening galleries will present Rodin’s early creative processes, as a sculptor in Paris and Brussels in the 1870s. The evolution of his sculptures will be explored, as works on paper will hang alongside preliminary models, such as The Gates of Hell. Other key works, such as The Kiss and the Burghers of Calais will be examined in the ensuing rooms. Rodin was heavily influenced by Greek and Syrian sculpture. He sketched works such as the Parthenon Frieze at the British Museum, and built up a collection of antiquities. The theme of the Antique will include a display of works from Rodin’s own collection. The final room will present Rodin’s monuments to Whistler and Victor Hugo.

ORGANISATION This exhibition has been organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the Kunsthaus Zürich in collaboration with the Musée Rodin, Paris. Rodin is curated by Antoinette Le Normand-Romain, Conservateur Général at the Musée Rodin; Catherine Lampert, a Rodin scholar, curator of contemporary art and former Director of the Whitechapel Art Gallery; Christoph Becker at the Kunsthaus Zurich; and Norman Rosenthal and MaryAnne Stevens at the Royal Academy of Arts.

CATALOGUE The catalogue will address Rodin's special relationship to modern art, and particularly to the great figurative tradition of British painting and the foundations of post-war English sculpture.

EXHIBITION TOUR Royal Academy of Arts 23 September 2006 – 1 January 2007 Kunsthaus Zürich 9 February – 20 May 2007

Sponsored by Ernst and Young

Pressetext

Rodin
Auguste Rodin
Organisation: Royal Academy of Arts, London; Kunsthaus Zürich in Zusammenarbeit mit Musée Rodin, Paris

Stationen:
23.09.06 - 01.01.07 Royal Academy of Arts, London
09.02.07 - 20.05.07 Kunsthaus Zürich