Pierre de Wissant at The Musée Rodin, Paris
Pierre de Wissant at The Musée Rodin, Paris
Published 2015-05-01T16:29:17+00:00
n 1884, the mayor of Calais commissioned Auguste Rodin to create a monument as a tribute to the citizens of the French port town. The creation was aptly named The Burghers of Calais. The French sculptor's design was inspired by an episode in the Hundred Years' War in 1347, when the heroism of six burghers saved Calais from total destruction and ended the English siege to city. Barefoot, dressed in gunny sacks and with nooses around their necks, they handed over the keys of the city to the King of England. Rodin rendered the story in a unique and innovative way. He deviated from the rules of sculpting by working out each burgher separately and by not placing them on a pedestal but at the same level as the viewers, so that they stood amidst the crowd, as it were. This rendering of Pierre de Wissant. Burgher of Calais, one of the six burghers, is strikingly realistic. The tormented posture, the expressive gesture and the wonderfully modelled surface enhance the sense of despair and drama exuded by the figure.
A work of patience
Today, Auguste Rodin is considered to have steered sculpting in a new direction, but in his own day, his work was often heavily criticised. Although he had already completed the monument in 1886, it would not be erected until 1895, on a pedestal rather than at the viewers' level as the artist had intended. The pedestal was removed in 1924, seven years after Rodin's death.
On his slow procession towards death, Pierre De Wissant turns round and lifts his right arm back, just like setting free a bird
This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.
Date published | 01/05/2015 |
Title | Pierre de Wissant |
Artist | Auguste Rodin |
Place | Musée Rodin |
I always wondered how sculpts would look like if painted. This started when I was told that the sculpts in the metope of Parthenon where painted and what remains today is the decoloured marble after many ages.
Some times I just try to paint, but in other cases, something provocative comes into my mind and I follow a more creative path. In any case, enjoy!
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