Pierre de Wiessant, Nude Study

Auguste Rodin|Alexis Rudier

modeled 1885, cast before 1950 · Bronze · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

To fully capture the physicality of human expression, Rodin first modeled the figures of The Burghers of Calais (1989.407) as nudes and later draped them with clothing. Here, he portrays Pierre de Wiessant as a strong, lean youth. Reflecting on another study of Pierre’s noble resignation to death, the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, "This figure [could be] a monument to all who have died young."

Artist

Auguste Rodin|Alexis Rudier

Date

modeled 1885, cast before 1950

Medium

Bronze

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 1984