Auguste Rodin

Rodin first met his future partner, Rose Beuret, a young seamstress, in 1864. The two shared an intimate bond almost instantly and Beuret eventually became his companion for life. It was only after fifty-three years into their relationship that the two married on January 29, 1917. In 1866, however, they were blessed with a Rodin’s only child, a son Auguste Eugene Beuret.

In 1883, Rodin befriended Camille Claudel. The friendship soon progressed as the two shared a passionate yet stormy relationship. She served as his inspiration for many of his figures.

In 1889, Rodin’s personal life underwent a major turmoil as both Beuret and Clauddel became increasingly impatient with his double standards. Despite living with Claudel, Rodin refused to bow out of his relationship with Beuret, who mothered his son. It was only in 1898 that Claudel and Rodin separated. Subsequently, Claudel underwent nervous breakdown that led to her death.

Auguste Rodin was born as François-Auguste-René Rodin to Jean-Baptiste Rodin and Marie Cheffer on November 12, 1840 in Paris, France. He had an elder sister, Maria.

Born in a family of meagre means, young Rodin couldn’t afford going to school. As such, he was mostly self-educated. As soon as Rodin entered teenage, he enrolled himself at Petite École, studying drawing and painting.

In 1857, Rodin tried to enter the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts but failed. He attempted twice again but was rejected on each occasion. Dejected, he took to working as a craftsman and ornamenter. During this phase, Rodin indulged in producing decorative stonework and architectural embellishments.

The tragic death of his sister in 1862 deeply impacted Rodin. Briefly, he left his artistic career and instead joined the Catholic order, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.

Encouraged by Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Rodin resumed his art life, working as a decorator. He trained under Antoine-Louis Barye, who immensely influenced Rodin on the detailing aspect of art.

In 1864, Rodin entered the art studio of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and made his first submission in the official Salon exhibition. However, his work was rejected.

Until 1870, Rodin worked as the chief assistant for Carrier-Belleuse, designing roof decorations and doorway embellishments. Briefly, he served in the army during the Franco-Prussian War before re-joining Carrier-Belleuse in Belgium, working on ornamentation of the Brussels’ public buildings.

In 1875, Rodin visited Italy. The trip left the artist startled by the artistic geniuses that prevailed at that time. The works of Michelangelo and Donatello left a deep impact on Rodin, rescuing him from the academicism of his work experience. He travelled to Genoa, Florence, Rome, Naples and Venice before returning to Brussels.

The visit to Italy stirred the inner artist in Rodin, who until then was too engaged with his decorative stonework to actually realize the fact that art was more than just academicism. The experience helped him develop a personally expressive style, thus breaking the monotony.

Returning to Brussels, Rodin started working on his first original work, named ‘The Vanquished’. Today popularly known as ‘The Age of Bronze’, it was his first life-size male sculpture whose realism earned Rodin lots of attention and accusation. However, it did release him from obscurity and put him into limelight.

progenitor of modern sculpture, Rodin greatest work came in late in his life as he gradually developed his unconventional style that challenged the traditional approach. Some of his most celebrated and best-known works include, ‘The Age of Bronze’, ‘The Gate of Hell’, ‘The Thinker’, ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Burghers of Calais’. Additionally, his portraits of monumental figures such as Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac also feature as some of his most distinguished works.