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Writer's pictureGeoffrey C. Smith

The Patina Journal - François Auguste René Rodin Artist Blog

a front picture of Musée Rodin

Welcome to our artist blog where we will learn about Auguste Rodin; see Geoffrey & Rodin photoshopped... we love his beard! Enjoy notes from Geoffrey's visit to the Musée Rodin, Paris.


See the sculpture spotlight on companion dove sculptures Two Graces and Unity.

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Artist Spotlight

François Auguste René Rodin


Geoffrey standing next to The Three Shades sculpture by Auguste Rodin

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.

—Auguste Rodin


Rodin's studio
The Gates of Hell by Auguste Rodin

Pictured above, Rodin's studio and The Gates of Hell.


In 2017 I was fortunate to have gone to Paris with my wife. I found myself exploring The Musée Rodin, the former home of the sculptor François Auguste René Rodin. I was seeing first hand many of the sculptures I had studied and experienced one-dimensionally through pictures. Instead, I was walking around the larger than life masterpieces and breathing in the rich history of his home and sculpture gardens. Here is a tiny fraction of what I learned. Born November 12, 1840, Rodin is considered the originator of modern sculpture, although he did not intend to be. His work rebelled against traditional themes of mythology, instead, he modeled the human body realistically and sculpted individual character and physicality. One example you probably already know is his most recognized work, The Thinker. Many of his sculptures were criticized during his lifetime, he was accused of surmouage - having made a cast from a living model. Rodin denied the charges. After demanding an inquiry he was eventually exonerated by a committee of sculptors. Despite the controversy, his reputation grew and he became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. Rodin was commissioned to create a monumental bronze doorway for a planned Museum of the Decorative Arts. This project is considered Rodin's greatest work, though the museum was never completed and The Gates of Hell, as the doors came to be titled, were not cast until after the artist's death. No tale of Rodin is complete without mention of his muse, a fellow sculptor, Camile Claudel. The two formed a passionate but stormy relationship and influenced each other artistically. For me, this place was inspiring and I hope this inspires you to learn more about Rodin. ~Geoffrey


an image of Rodin photoshopped to have Geoffrey's face

The altered image above is Geoffrey channeling his inner Rodin!



Sculpture Spotlight


Two Graces bronze sculpture by Geoffrey Smith depicting two doves landing on a branch
Unity bronze sculpture by Geoffrey Smith depicting two doves resting on a branch

These two sculptures, Two Graces and Unity, serve as companion pieces for each other. Both showcase a pair of doves. Two Graces depicts a pair of doves coming to roost, while Unity depicts a scene of two doves resting together on a branch. These doves are celebrating the day as the sky glows golden and they look forward to the future.




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