Auguste Rodin

Date of Birth: November 12, 1840

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: November 17, 1917

Biography

François-Auguste-René Rodin, commonly known as Auguste Rodin, was a pioneering French sculptor born on November 12, 1840, in Paris, France. Celebrated as the father of modern sculpture, Rodin’s innovative techniques and expressive forms marked a departure from traditional sculptural conventions. His most renowned works include “The Thinker,” “The Kiss,” and “The Gates of Hell,” each displaying his mastery over human emotion and complex poses. Rodin’s career began modestly; he faced early rejection from the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. Despite this, he honed his skills through apprenticeships and independent study. His breakthrough came with the “Age of Bronze” in 1877, which was so lifelike that critics accused him of casting it from a live model. This controversy only heightened his profile, leading to significant commissions and exhibitions. Throughout his career, Rodin collaborated with many artists and had a tumultuous personal life, including a long-term relationship with fellow artist Camille Claudel. Rodin’s work continued to evolve, influencing a generation of sculptors and earning him recognition as one of the great masters of his time. He died on November 17, 1917, in Meudon, France, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the world of sculpture.

5 Interesting Facts about Auguste Rodin

1. Auguste Rodin was initially rejected three times by the École des Beaux-Arts, a leading art school in Paris.

2. His sculpture “The Age of Bronze” was so realistic that it sparked a scandal, with critics accusing him of casting directly from a model.

3. Rodin’s “The Thinker” was initially part of a larger work, “The Gates of Hell,” inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”

4. He had a long and complicated relationship with fellow sculptor Camille Claudel, who was both his muse and lover.

5. Rodin’s home in Meudon, where he spent the last years of his life, is now the Musée Rodin, dedicated to his work and legacy.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Auguste Rodin

1. “The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation.”

2. “Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”

3. “Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which nature herself is animated.”

4. “To any artist, worthy of the name, all in nature is beautiful, because his eyes, fearlessly accepting all exterior truth, read there, as in an open book, all the inner truth.”

5. “I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don’t need.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures are not available, Auguste Rodin was financially successful, especially later in his career. By the time of his death, his works were highly valued and sought after, making him one of the wealthier artists of his era.