Built in honor of the great 19th century French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the Rodin museum is a showcase of the artist’s half a century work and his indelible contributions to the arts.
It is one of the two museums built to honor Rodin; the other museum is situated in Meudon.
History of the Museum
The great French sculpture Auguste Rodin born 1840- died 1917. Ushered modernity into the classical world of modern sculpture, though Rodin has mastered classical and renaissance arts, he was however bound by his natural realism and the skill to show movement and human emotion. He was also known for his eye-catching details and his talent in utilizing similar figures in different media such as painting. Though he was also gifted in other arts he was known was the best sculptor that lived in his era.
One known Rodin fan and collector was Philadelphia cinema house tycoon and philanthropist Jules Mastbaum. In 1923 armed with intent to make a Rodin museum, Mastbaum set about gathering a complete inventory of Rodin’s work. Aside from buying bronze works he also bought plaster studies. Other collections included drawings, sketches, letters and books. Upon his death in 1926 he had assembled the most formidable collection of Rodin works outside France. Mastbaum also enlisted French neoclassical architects Paul Cret and Jacques Greber to make a plan on the proposed Rodin museum.
The Rodin museum inaugurated in 1929 has about 130 Rodin sculptures that include bronze casts of Rodin’s masterpieces such as The Thinker, the Burghers of Calais, Eternal Springtime and the Apotheosis of Victor Hugo. Also in the museum are monuments made for French geniuses. Then there is one of his most exquisite works the Gates of Hell which was made from 1880 until Rodin’s death in 1917.
The present museum
The Rodin Museum is at 77 Rue de Varenne. Going there; you take the Paris Metro station and get off at Verenne Metro Station and walk. There is a sign post outside the metro station which will lead you to the museum.
The building itself is another notable aspect of the museum.
It is an 18th century building that looks like a residence. It is located in a three-acre garden, the gardens also Museum visitors will surely be awed with the collection and lovely gardens. There is a big sculpture of Rodin placed inside the garden.
Aside from the works of Rodin, other artists like Camille Claude and other contemporaries are found here. The Thinker, The Hand of God and The Cathedral are some of the works that can be found in the museum.
The museum has different schedules during summer and winter. From April to September the museum opens from 9:45 am to 5:45 am (the garden closes an hour later). And from October to March the museum closes at 4:45 pm (the garden closes at 5 pm.)
Minors those under 18 years of age don’t have to pay for tickets. Adults must buy standard tickets worth 6 euros.