Auguste Rodin (1840 1917) was the foremost sculptor of the nineteenth century, creating such iconic works as The Kiss, The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, alongside many vivid portraits. In this absorbing monograph, Jane Mayo Roos gives an informative overview of Rodin's life, beliefs and artistic practice. Roos presents all Rodin's major sculptures in their personal and historical context, explaining their evolution in an enlightening profile of this passionate artist. From his early sculptures made during his pursuit of recognition by the arts establishment to his high-profile portraits and public commissions, Rodin's achievement comes across forcefully in two hundred illustrations. Drawings and contemporary photographs of maquettes and of the artist in his studio with his work enhance the reader's understanding of Rodin's vision. The greatest sculptures, including The Burghers of Calais, The Gates of Hell and portraits of Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac, are thoroughly examined in terms of their commission, design and making, and reception by the public and critics. A very readable introduction to the subject that will also appeal to specialists for its breadth and insights.

Author Biography

Jane Mayo Roos is an award-winning scholar who has published and lectured widely on the sculpture of Auguste Rodin. Having received her doctorate from Columbia University, she has been a Professor of Art History at Hunter College in New York City and a Visiting Lecturer in Christie's Graduate Programme in Connoisseurship. Her published works include Rodin's Monument to Victor Hugo (1998), as well as books and essays on Aedouard Manet, Claude Monet, Camille Claudel, and Stephane Mallarme.