A little-known fact of the Bay Area is the extensive collection of sculpture by Auguste Rodin at Stanford University. Outside of The Quad is a replica of one of Rodin's most powerful works, The Burghers of Calais. With text from the Metropolitan Museum, here is the story of the Burghers:
In 1885 the town council of the French city of Calais commissioned Rodin to produce a sculpture that would pay tribute to the burghers of Calais, heroes of the Hundred Years’ War and symbols of French patriotism.
In 1347, according to the fourteenth-century Chronicles of Jean Froissart, King Edward III of England laid siege to the French town of Calais. After eleven months, with the people desperately short of food and water, six of the leading citizens, or burghers, of Calais offered themselves as hostages to Edward in exchange for the freedom of their city. The king agreed, ordering them to dress in plain garments, wear nooses around their necks, and journey to his camp bearing the keys to the city. Although the king intended to kill the burghers, his pregnant wife, Philippa, persuaded him to spare them, believing that their deaths would be a bad omen for her unborn child.
The story of the burghers of Calais appears in the work of earlier artists, most of whom focused on the single figure of Eustache de Saint-Pierre. Rodin, however, decided to include all six burghers. He had read Froissart’s Chronicles and elected to use the text as the basis for his sculpture.
Froissart describes how each man, a rich and well-respected citizen, announces his intention to offer himself as a hostage to King Edward III. Froissart then writes of the men’s departure after removing the fine clothing that would have identified them as wealthy citizens, wearing instead their “shirts and breeches” (undergarments).
Rodin chooses to portray the moment in the narrative when the men, believing they are going to die, leave the city. He shows the burghers as vulnerable and conflicted, yet heroic in the face of their likely fate.
13 commentaires:
Bonjour dear Louis!
Thanks for this lesson about art, it's really interesting.I like a lot the work of Rodin, he was a genius indeed!I imagine how much you enjoy visit the Stanford University there!
All sculpture are wonderful but my favourite is the last one in this set of pictures, so expressive and dramatic!
Have a blessed week
hugs
Léia
Art and history today.
Fantastic post! I find it interesting how all the men have such different reactions :-)
I appreciate all kinds of arts but not much into informative details as to whose who what how and why...
Today I learned that Rodin is almost the father of modern metallic sculpture? Just a supposition.
I'm a lazy student unless it's my forte. I'm only an admirer and someone has to stay in the background to appreciate someone else's work. lol
Sorry for being cheeky. But it's the truth.
That is very interesting history. I think sculptures are my favorite type of art to look at.
Very interesting; I think I knew that once-upon-a-time, but forgot.
I love their expressions. I too am a fan of Rodin's...a little less so, though, since I saw the film, 'Camille Claudel'.
J'aime bien Rodin mais je préfère de loin Camille Claudel.
Art and history--Very interesting.
Not just a 'burgher king'. MN
Thank you for the illustrated lesson of art and history!
Rodin's a genius. Thanks for the story.
I never realized that this sculpture is composed of individual statues. My association is the group of four burghers displayed in the garden next to Westminster Abbey. Information is power.
Great sculptures, by Auguste Rodin, very expressive portraits.
Thanks for sharing!
It's good that the authoirised copies of Rodin's works makes it possible to see them a bit "everywhere"!
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