Hanging out with Rodin

I was in year six at primary school.  We had an excursion to Canberra which impacted me in two ways.  It showed me that the Australian War Memorial is one of the most special places we have in this country and it introduced me to the work of Auguste Rodin.  (Then Shelley Conrick spilled boiling water on her foot and it all went down hill from there.)

The Sculpture Garden in the National Gallery of Australia has a cast of four of the six figures.  It is a striking work and over the years I have visited the gallery, especially after moving to Canberra, I have always spent a minute looking at it.

It's not just the story of the burghers of Calais, who were prepared to sacrifice themselves to save their townspeople during the seige of Calais in the Hundred Years War, but the amazing power of Rodin's work.  He does hands so beautifully, along with everything else.

Anyway, fast forward to Paris and a visit to the Musee Rodin was always on my must do list.  The museum is located in the Hotel Biron, a house where Rodin lived for a time before his death.  It is an old house, stuffed full of works by Rodin, with a few minor paintings thrown in that he owned (anyone heard of Munsch, Monet, Van Gogh or Renoir?) and a beautiful garden with bigger works in it.

You'll find some familiar friends here - the Thinker and Balzac are in the garden, along with some other very famous works.

Inside there are more of my favourites.

The Cathedral is bigger in real life than you would expect.

And then there is the Kiss.  It is a breathtaking piece and it almost feels like intruding to take pictures of it. (I managed though).

Isn't it beautiful?

Tearing yourself away from this, and the chance to get up close and personal with Vincent (and check out the Munsch)

it is time to head back outside, to where the burghers are waiting.  My apologies that this post is so picture heavy - there could have been more, but I had pity.

I love the dignity of this sculpture.

Look at the hands - aren't they wonderful?

I took pictures from every angle possible and then some.  And then I just sat and looked and was happy. I'll need to go to Calais now, to see them in their natural habitat.  But seeing them in Paris was incredible and I will be forever glad that I did.

Auguste, it was a pleasure spending time with you.