Detail View: Archivision Base to Module 9: Burghers of Calais [First Maquette]
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Preferred Title:
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Burghers of Calais [First Maquette]
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Image View:
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Detail, the right three figures
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Creator:
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Auguste Rodin (French sculptor, 1840-1917)
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Location:
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repository: Musée Rodin (Paris, Île-de-France, France) S.86
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Location Note:
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Hôtel Biron; 79 rue de Varenne
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GPS:
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+48.8555281+2.315902
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Date:
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1884 (creation)
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Cultural Context:
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French
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Style Period:
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Nineteenth century
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Work Type 1:
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maquette (sculpture)
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Classification:
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sculpture
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Material:
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plaster
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Technique:
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modeling (forming)
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Measurements:
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61 cm (height) x 38 cm (width) x 32.5 cm (depth)
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Description:
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In 1347, after a year-long siege, six citizens of Calais agreed to sacrifice their lives and hand over the keys of their city to its conqueror, King Edward III of England. The story was related in Jean Froissart's Chronicles (1370-1400). Although commissioned to depict only the leading burgher, Eustache de St Pierre, Rodin decided to show all six in a "slow procession towards death". The notion of collective sacrifice was emphasized even in the first maquette. The six figures, not yet individualized, were presented on the same plane on a very high rectangular base, adorned with bas-reliefs, which formed a triumphal pedestal. This first maquette was greeted enthusiastically by the committee and Rodin was officially awarded the commission. (Source: Musée Rodin [website]; http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/)
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Collection:
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Archivision Addition Module Nine
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Identifier:
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7A1-RA-RBCS-A04
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Rights:
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© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
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