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August Rodin, French - (1840-1917)
Rodin has been appreciated for decades as one of the pre-eminent Realist sculptors of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century. Rodin's goal, as he put it, was "to render inner feelings through muscular movement." He achieved this aim by joining his profound knowledge of anatomy and movement with special attention to the body's surfaces, saying, "The sculptor must learn to reproduce the surface, which means all that vibrates on the surface, soul, love, passion, life...Sculpture is thus the art of hollows and mounds, not of smoothness, or even polished planes." To this end, his detailed modeling and energetic poses are strikingly vigorous and lifelike...even one hundred years after they were created.
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Large White Kiss by Rodin
Rodin Museum, Paris, 1888-1889 The passionate love of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta was a theme which Rodin used to inspire The Kiss. Although it was originally intended to be part of the Gates of Hell, Rodin did not feel that it fit and removed the figures to make them an individual statue. Its blend of eroticism and idealism makes it one of the great images of sexual love. The form of the lovers emerges from the highlights and shadows of the statue. Light and shade were used by Rodin to create an impression of actuality. He did with modeling that which his contemporaries, the French impressionist painters, were doing with pigment. The couple are the adulterous lovers Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini, who were slain by FrancescaÌs outraged husband. They appear in DanteÌs Inferno, which describes how their passion grew as they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. Rodin indicated that his approach to sculpting women was of homage to them and their bodies, not just submitting to men but as full partners in ardor. The consequent eroticism in the sculpture made it controversial. Rodin considered it overly traditional, but it remains as one of his most famous works. The Kiss by Rodin is made from bonded stone, antique stone finish, black marble base, and measures 8"H X 4.5"W X 5"D. T-006SM, $58
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The White Kiss (1886) by Auguste Rodin
This sculpture is based on a love story reported by Dante in his Divine Comedy and sculptured by Rodin for The Gates of Hell. Francesca's father arranged for her to be married to Gianciotto in a political union to end a war between Malatesta and Rimini. Gianciotto's younger brother, Paolo, was sent to advise Francesca. Upon meeting, they fell in love. Tricked into marriage with Gianciotto, Francesca pursued Paolo until one day they were found in her room. Gianciotto thrust a rapier towards Paolo, but struck both Francesca in her bosom and Paolo. The lovers both and were buried together in a tomb. Their love has frequently been illustrated by artists, as Rodin captures the tenderness of their eternal kiss.
Collectible quality, resin with hand-painted color details, matte and glossy finish. Measures 5.5"H x 3.4 "W x 3.5"L RO02, $42
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Large White Kiss by Rodin
Based on the couple
from Dante's 'Inferno'.
Made with collectible quality, resin with hand-painted color details, matte and glossy finish. Includes full color card with image of original artwork. Description card about artist and artwork. Both cards are in four languages. Measures 10"H x 5.5"D. RO07, $116
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The Kiss by Rodin Bronze Finish
In 1880, Rodin received the commission for the Gates of Hell, a decorative door for the future Museum of Decorative Arts (Musee des Beaux Arts), to be decorated with low reliefs inspired by The Divine Comedy of Dante. Although the Gates of Hell was never completed, some of Rodin's most famous and memorable pieces were originally done for it including The Thinker, Adam, Eve, and The Kiss. He sculpted them in several sizes and exhibited them extensively.
Made from collectible quality, resin with hand-painted color details, bronze finish. Includes full color card with image of original artwork. Description card about artist and artwork. Both cards are in four languages.
Measures 6"H x 3.5"W x 3"L RO12, $42
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The Kiss by Rodin Large Bronze Finish
Made from collectible quality, resin with hand-painted color details, bronze finish. Includes full color card with image of original artwork. Description card about artist and artwork. Both cards are in four languages. Measures 9"H x 5.5"D RO11, $116.00
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The Kiss Bronze Finish
French, late 19th-century. Auguste Rodin. Made from compound stone, antique dark bronze finish, wood base, 11.5"H x 7"W. TAL286 $95
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Eternal Springtime by Rodin
This is a reproduction of a Rodin's Eternal Springtime in the Rodin Museum, Paris. The original bronze sculpture was modeled in 1884 and cast around 1916-7. The torso of the woman in this group is recognizable as that of a model named Adele Abruzzezzi. Rodin used her repeatedly, and she also appears in a very different context in The Gates of Hell. Eternal Springtime is full of awakening sensuality, implying neither guilt nor punishment to come. The sculpture was extremely popular, and Rodin repeated it often both in marble and in bronze.
This version displays the sensuous, veiled quality of carving that creates an impressionistic play of light and shade characteristic of the sculptures of Rodin's later career. The two young nude figures meet in a kiss. Her legs graze the ground and her upper body is held in a taut arc and supported by the embrace of the male figure. He is posed precariously on the edge of a rocky mound, crossing his legs, and extending his left foot beyond the base of the sculpture as his left arm reaches out gracefully into space.
Made from cultured marble with resin, bronze finish, 10"H x 11"L. T-001B, $59
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Eternal Idol
By Auguste Rodin. As illustrated in this sculpture, Eternal Idol, by the two lovers who tenderly touch, Rodin's work is characterized by his deft modeling of the human form in a semi-impressionistic, semi-realistic image.
Made with stone and resin, antique finish, black marble base, 10 7/8"H x 6.5"L x 4"D. T-010SM, $73
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