Copper in the Arts

April 2015

Rodin: The Human Experience at Michener Museum

rodin sculptureCharles Rudy (1904 - 1986), Shorn Medusa, 1959, Bronze 26x22x 15in. James A. Michener Art Museum. Gift of Mrs. Charles Rudy.

Photograph courtesy of the James A. Michener Art Museum

A new bronze installation showcasing the work of Auguste Rodin, one of the greatest sculptors of the late nineteenth century is currently on view at the James A. Michener Museum through June 14.

This comprehensive retrospective of work spans the artist's long career, featuring several rare portrait bronzes, including his famous depictions of writer Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac; the musician Gustav Mahler; the artist Claude Lorraine; one of his favorite dancers, Hanako; and his portrayal of God, which is also a self-portrait.

The selected bronzes in the show represent the major achievements of Rodin's career. They include the powerful Burghers of Calais, as well as works derived from his masterpiece, The Gates of Hell. Others, such as The Night (Double Figure), demonstrate his experimentation with assemblage. Also featured are sculptures, such as Monumental Torso of the Walking Man, which demonstrate his admiration for Michelangelo, and Dance Movement D, which speaks to his interest in creating an illusion of movement.

Rodin’s ability to use bronze to represent living flesh and his interest in expressing extreme psychological states were highly influential upon younger artists, both in Europe and America. Rodin: The Human Experience reveals why the artist is considered the crucial link between traditional and modern sculpture.

This exhibition has been organized and made possible by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.

Resources:

James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown, PA, (215) 340-9800

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