Rodin in London

Magazine Antiques, Oct, 2006 by Miriam Kramer

It could be argued that Auguste Rodin heralded the modern age of sculpture, in part because he was most successful at the turn of the twentieth century, but mainly because in his monumental public sculpture he broke with traditional and classical sculpting methods. He was equally competent in creating smaller scale pieces and intimate portraits.

Rodin had a long relationship with Britain. In 1882 he exhibited at the summer exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and as a result he was championed by some of the major artists and collectors of the day, such as Frederic, Lord Leighton (the academy's president) and Constantine Ionides. After 1900 the founding collectors of the museums of Manchester, Cardiff, and Glasgow all bought Rodin's sculptures, making his work well represented outside London. In 1914 Rodin donated eighteen works to the British government, which are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The first major Rodin exhibition in Britain in two decades is on view at the Royal Academy until January 1. Called simply Rodin, it was organized by Antoinette Romain, Catherine Lampert, Christoph Becker, Norman Rosenthal, and MaryAnne Stevens. After its London showing (which is sponsored by Ernst and Young) it will be on view at the Kunsthaus Zurich from February 9, 2007, until May 20, 2007. The accompanying catalogue, written by Lampert and Romain with contributions by other scholars, may be ordered from Harry N. Abrams through the Web site www.hnabooks.com.

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