Final Study for the Monument to Balzac

Auguste Rodin|Georges Rudier

modeled 1897, cast 1972 · Bronze · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

In 1891 Rodin was commissioned to construct a posthumous monument to the illustrious literary figure Honoré de Balzac. It took the sculptor seven years to arrive at the final study from which this bronze was cast. Gaze fixed toward the horizon, a disheveled Balzac leans back, his body transformed by a shapeless oversize dressing gown into a dense and formidable monolith. Today Balzac’s shrouded figure is understood to be symbolic of the author’s imposing genius. Contemporary viewers, however, were baffled by its inarticulate form. The work provoked harsh criticism upon its debut in 1898, but Rodin defended it, explaining that "a man celebrated for his heart and mind should not be [represented by] his body."

Artist

Auguste Rodin|Georges Rudier

Date

modeled 1897, cast 1972

Medium

Bronze

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 1984