Auguste Rodin
Biography1840 - 1917
About the artist
Auguste Rodin is a famous French sculptor who usually worked in an Impressionist style and was born in 1840. He spent his youth in poverty, but managed to apply for the École Impériale de Dessin.
He applied for the École des Beaux Arts thrice, but was rejected every time for his work was considered to be too bold. He was not discouraged however, and started working as a decorator, producing sculptures in the meantime, such as the appealing bronze bust of Pierre-Julien Eymard. He would meet Rose Beuret soon after and spend the rest of her life with her, depicting her in numerous of his works. His first submission for the Salon in 1864 was also rejected, which forced him to work for the sculpture Albert-Ernest Carrier Belleuse and create meaningless sculptures for over five years.
He decided to travel to Florence and Rome in 1875, which turned out to be a turning point in his life. He felt artistically liberated after he set his eyes on the works of sculptors such as Michelangelo, and started making art that was not in accordance with the official viewpoints on sculpture. Only in 1880, Rodin received his first order for a sculpture, the Porte de l'Enfer, a work he has spent more than six year on. In the following years, the requests kept flowing in. In the meantime, Rodin had a famous affair with his young female student Camille Claudel for over thirteen years.
Rodin was an Impressionist sculptor, using the irregular surface of his work to create an interesting lighting effect that gives his work a lively effect and an intentional insight in his working process. Rodin befriended famous impressionists such as Pierre Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet and Mallarmé, which led his impressionist sculptures to improve and flourish.
Rodin passed away in 1917. Today, Rodin is one of the most renowned sculptors in the world. His works are part of many private collections and collections of famous museums such as the MOMA in New York.
He applied for the École des Beaux Arts thrice, but was rejected every time for his work was considered to be too bold. He was not discouraged however, and started working as a decorator, producing sculptures in the meantime, such as the appealing bronze bust of Pierre-Julien Eymard. He would meet Rose Beuret soon after and spend the rest of her life with her, depicting her in numerous of his works. His first submission for the Salon in 1864 was also rejected, which forced him to work for the sculpture Albert-Ernest Carrier Belleuse and create meaningless sculptures for over five years.
He decided to travel to Florence and Rome in 1875, which turned out to be a turning point in his life. He felt artistically liberated after he set his eyes on the works of sculptors such as Michelangelo, and started making art that was not in accordance with the official viewpoints on sculpture. Only in 1880, Rodin received his first order for a sculpture, the Porte de l'Enfer, a work he has spent more than six year on. In the following years, the requests kept flowing in. In the meantime, Rodin had a famous affair with his young female student Camille Claudel for over thirteen years.
Rodin was an Impressionist sculptor, using the irregular surface of his work to create an interesting lighting effect that gives his work a lively effect and an intentional insight in his working process. Rodin befriended famous impressionists such as Pierre Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet and Mallarmé, which led his impressionist sculptures to improve and flourish.
Rodin passed away in 1917. Today, Rodin is one of the most renowned sculptors in the world. His works are part of many private collections and collections of famous museums such as the MOMA in New York.
