La femme accroupie, 1998

Auguste Rodin   Master Artists

Auguste Rodin is a French sculptor born in Paris in 1840 and died in Meudon in 1917 considered to be one of the fathers of modern sculpture. A mediocre student, he draws as soon as he has the opportunity and at the age of 14, his parents enroll him at the Special School of Drawing and Mathematics, today called the National School of Arts. Decorative, where he developed his passion for sculpture. In 1957, he tried the entrance examination for the School of Fine Arts but failed several times in the sculpture test after having nevertheless passed the drawing test. To meet his needs, he then provided his services in sculptors' workshops.

In 1864, Auguste Rodin met Rose Beuret, a young seamstress who served as his model. He shared his life with her for 50 years and ended up marrying her in 1917, shortly before her death. During his life, he maintained several other relationships in particular with Camille Claudel, whom he met in 1883. From this meeting was born an artistic and loving relationship which lasted more than 10 years but Auguste Rodin refused to marry him despite the love. unconditional that she carries him.

The following years established his fame, he illustrated Baudelaire's Fleurs du mal in 1887 then was selected for the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889 with his marble sculpture Le Baiser before being made Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1903. He also becomes a founding member of the National Society of Fine Arts and creates a monument in homage to Victor Hugo for the Panthéon in Paris. Close to the artistic world, Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne are his closest friends and collaborators. In 1906, his work The Thinker was installed in front of the Pantheon and is today one of the best-known works of the world artistic heritage.