By: Marcia Abramson
Rose Beuret, a seamstress, served as Rodin's lover, housekeeper, studio helper and model for many of his works. Particularly noteworthy is a vivacious portrait of her when she was in her 20s. Then, a bronze named Mignon representing Rose at mid-life was sculpted and is at the Rodin Museum.Additionally Rose was Rodin's life-long companion and the mother of his son. It was well known that Rose was not the only lover in Rodin's life. It has been rumored that the raging expression on her face of the winged female warrior in The Call to Arms was based on Rose during a Moment of Jealous Rage. But Rose would never leave Rodin and chose to endure his many infidelities. They finally married when he was 76 and she was 72. Unfortunately, they were both very ill when they were wed. She died of pneumonia within two weeks of their wedding and he followed 10 weeks later. The two were buried in a tomb dominated by his most memorable creation, The Thinker. The entrance to the Rodin Museum is also further immortalized by their tomb, The Thinker.Honore De Balzac, one of the most acclaimed of he French novelists, became a subject for a Rodin sculpture. Rodin started studying the novelist with portraits, hired models to replicate the large physique of the writer and read all his masterpieces, including La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy). The size of Balzac's head was considered a monstrosity and its replicate was not received kindly by the French public. As a matter of fact when the sculpture was revealed, it was reviled and the monument was not erected in downtown Paris until 22 years after Rodin's death.Victor Hugo will always be cherished for his literary masterpiece Les Miserables. Les Mis was the third longest running theatrical production on the Great White Way (Broadway), and is most widely known for his epic novel of 1862, Les Miserables. As he reached his 81st birthday, he finally relented and allowed Rodin to do his portrait with one proviso, that he did not have to pose. Rodin was forced to quietly sketch Hugo while the author chatted and dined with his friends. Unfortunately, the writer died shortly thereafter without pleasing the author's family with Rodin's finished bust.At the turn of the 20th century, the 43-year-old instructor entered into a 15-year torrid relationship with his beautiful 19-year-old talented sculpture student, Camille Claudel. Their relationship was the talk of all the gossipmongers and certainly did not make long suffering Rose Beuret happy. When Rodin's relationship with his student terminated, she continued to sculpt, but also began to show signs of mental deterioration and dementia. Within 10 years, she was committed to an asylum where she spent the last 30 years of her life. Camille is shown in many works of art in the Rodin Museum. In his creation entitled "Thought," Rodin planned to create a head so alive that it would impart vitality to the seemingly lifeless mass of marble beneath it. His study for La France completed six years after their separation was based on Rodin's memory of Camille's features.Actually, the Rodin Museum opened in 1929 and has 127 sculptures of marble, bronze, plaster, terra cotta and wax in the collection. The hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Mondays and holidays. Hours are subject to change. For days and times call (215) 684-7600.
Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
