Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams at the Polk Museum of Art

"The Three Shades" (modeled 1880-1904);
Musee Rodin cast 10, 1981 Bronze, Coubertin Foundry

The Polk Museum of Art is a real gem. A Smithsonian affiliate, the Lakeland museum hosts some fabulous exhibits. Case in point: "Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams," on display through October 30.  The exhibit includes 40 bronze sculptures now on tour from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections. Seeing so many Rodins in one place is cause for excitement. But what put the outing over the top was the docent tour. So much interesting information. Here are some of my takeaways from our visit. 

Rodin sculpted wax, plaster or clay models of his works, leaving foundries and marble sculptors to create the final product. I know this shouldn't have been a surprise, but I never thought about Rodin's actual skill set. Once he finished a model for a commission, the work would be finished in the manner the purchaser desired. If they wanted a bronze, Rodin would turn the model over to a foundry to cast the work. Marble? Find a very talented sculptor to replicate the model. This doesn't, of course, negate Rodin's talent in any way. But it does mean that unless you've encountered one of Rodin's plaster or clay models, you haven't seen a Rodin sculpture in its purest form. And here's an interesting tidbit: When Rodin died, he left all of those models to France to ensure that his work would continue to be seen. 

"Jean d'Aire, Nude" (modeled 1885-1886)
Musee Rodin cast 5 , 1981, Bronze, Coubertin Foundry

Rodin started each sculture by creating a nude. Rodin was interested in the human body and its musculature. So even when the final sculpture would be clothed, it would start as a nude. The exhibit included a nude of Balzac which left no question that his mind was more finely honed than his body. But then there was this incredible sculpture of a laborer with rippling muscles worthy of the cover of a Harlequin romance. In fact, Rodin was so faithful to his models that this man has a hernia just over his belly button from over-lifting. The docent also pointed out his locked knees, which would have made his job all the more difficult. He clearly hadn't been working with a trainer. For the clothed version of "Jean d'Aire," click here. 

The impetus for Rodin's creation of "The Gates of Hell" was repeated accusations that he created the models for his works by physically plastering his sitters. Rodin's initial response to these accusations was to create a larger than life model that was cast into bronze. "You just found a really big guy," the cynics charged. And so he spent 37 years of his life -- from 1880 to 1917 -- creating his "Gates of Hell." 

Gates of Hell maquettes (two doors), modeled 
about 1880, cast in the 1990s at Godard Foundry

The final Gates contain 180 figures, including two works that would become his most famous -- "The Thinker" and "The Kiss." The "Three Shades" (shown above) sit atop the doors in the final version. Rodin knew nobody would think he actually plastered that many people for his work. 

The sculptor never saw The Gates of Hell in its fully realized form. The first bronze was cast in 1925, several years after his death, and can be seen at the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. Multiple versions of the Gates exist today, including a bronze that can found at the Cantor Rodin Sculpture Garden at Stanford. If you have an hour and a couple of dollars to spare, rent "Rodin: The Gates of Hell" on Amazon. The documentary shows how this sculpture was created using the lost wax process. It is quite amazing.  

Rodin is one of the top ten artists whose works have been forged. I understand how a painting could be forged, but a sculpture? It turns out there are a number of ways this can happen. When Rodin gave his model to a foundry, he specified a certain number of bronzes that could be made (typically 12). Unauthorized editions are apparently considered forgeries, although that doesn't seem quite the right word to me. Other means of forging Rodin's sculptures include casting versions from a mold not made from an original plaster and adding his signature in an unauthorized manner to works cast post-humously. For a rant by a blogger about forged Rodins, click here. It's interesting but it does have the feel of something written by a conspiracy theorist, so take it with a grain of salt. And for one of many lists of most forged artists, click here. 

Burgher "Jacques de Wissant, Vetu," modeled
1885-86, cast 3/8, 1989, Coubertin Foundry 

The Burghers of Calais were honored for their willingness to sacrifice themselves. Every work of art has a story, and knowing what inspired the artist to create it always deepens my appreciation. And so I'll leave you with the story behind the sculptures of the Burghers of Calais. During the Hundred Years War between England and France, there was a siege of Calais during which the English ordered six citizens of the city to leave the sanctuary of the city and its castle. Once captured, they would be taken to the King for beheading. They were instructed to be barefoot and bareheaded, wear ropes around their neck and carry the keys to the city and the castle. Six burghers (or residents) bravely volunteered. They were ultimately saved when Queen Philippa interceded on their behalf. Rodin captures the men in the moments when they've emerged from the castle and are certain they're about to meet their death. Powerful stuff. Five of the six sculptures are in the exhibit and include Jacques de Wissant and Jean D'Aire. To see an image of the six burghers grouped together as they are most famously displayed, click here. 

For more information about "Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams" at the Polk, click here. Docent tours are on Saturdays at 11:00. And there's more Rodin coming to Southwest Florida soon. "True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism" will be on at the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts from November 12-March 26. For more information about that show, click here.