‘Rodin. Il marmo, la vita’
Terme di Diocleziano – Rome
18th February – 25th May 2014
After its huge success in Milan’s Palazzo Reale, don’t miss this fantastic exhibition of Auguste Rodin’s work in its new home in the halls of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome.
The exhibition features over 60 marble sculptures, making it the most ambitious and largest collection of Rodin’s work ever put together up until this point, and a well-deserved tribute to the artist whose work, together with that of Michelangelo, represents the pinnacle of innovation in the history of sculpture.
Contained within two of the bath’s ancient halls, the presentation is arranged into three main sections.
The first is developed around the theme of illusion of flesh and sensuality, and features several pieces from the artist’s youth that were created in a distinctly classical mold. Among these are the famous “Man with the Broken Nose”, a portrait tribute to Michelangelo which was refused by the Paris Salon in 1864, and “The Kiss”, the sculpture depicting two lovers which caused a huge scandal when it was unveiled in late 19th century France.
The second section features several of Rodin’s most well-known sculptures, and demonstrates his transition from an initial cold, classical style into a more intense and emotional one, as in the bust of his life-long partner Rose Beuret. His “Mains d’amant” are also on show, and demonstrate his tendency towards a strong sense of love and sensuality, while still maintaining his ties to traditional sculpture.
The third section focuses on the triumph of the “unfinished”, a reference to Michelangelo that was developed by Rodin in a uniquely modern way and then passed on to his successors. Among the sculptures contained in this section is his portrait of Victor Hugo.
The exhibition follows on from the Musée Rodin’s work on the examination of the artist’s process and working environment, and traces his progress towards modernity, a path that would mark him as an innovator, a precursor to the more contemporary idea of artists delegating parts of their process to collaborators, while still maintaining their artistic integrity and original concepts.
Open 9.30 – 19.30, Tuesday – Sunday