Foundation Newly Presents More Ways To Learn about Rodin
We are always looking for new ways to introduce people to the work of August Rodin. And we’ve just come up with three more! Now Rodin lovers may download the Foundation’s award-winning film, Rodin: The Gates of Hell directly from Amazon. The 53-minute film, produced by Iris Cantor in 1981 and winner of numerous prestigious accolades, has been newly digitized and color- and sound-corrected, so that today’s audiences will see the recounting of the Rodin story as beautifully as it was first told years ago by Mrs. Cantor. The film, with José Ferrer as the voice of Rodin, tells the story of the sculptor’s life and recounts the stressful and dangerous process of using the lost wax process to fabricate the artist’s masterpiece, The Gates of Hell. For more information, click on image of The Gates, on the left.
At the same time the Foundation has created an excerpt from the longer film; this explains the lost wax casting process in just eight minutes. Plaster, Molds, Wax, and Fire is an easy-to-follow visual lesson on the complicated procedure favored by Rodin. To take a look, visit Youtube.com.
And the Foundation is happy to announce that Dr. Olivia Mattis, the recipient of a Cantor Research Fellowship in 2004, has authored a chapter in an important new book, Rival Sisters, Art and Music at the Birth of Modernism, 1815-1915, which she also co-edited. Dr. Mattis contributed a chapter called Rodin’s Beethoven, wherein she describes the sculptor’s admiration for the composer. Research for this chapter at the Musée Rodin was made possible by the Foundation.
Terry Sutton-17 Bewsbury Cross Lane, Whitfield, Dover, UK
September 4, 2017 10:53 amI wonder if you are able to help me. I am a British journalist (living in Dover, UK) and local records show that a “Rodin” statue was offered to Dover more than a 100 years ago but was declined.
It was offered free but the town council could not afford the cost of the pedestal on which the statue was to stand.
The statue is said to have been of KING LEAR (of Shakespeare fame).
My question is: Did Rodin ever create a King Lear statue?
My name is Terry Sutton (MBE) and my e-mail is: terry.sutton@route56.co.uk
Thank you.
Judith Sobol
December 13, 2017 10:32 pmI am so sorry to be replying just now: Your inquiry just hit my desk.
I have no information that confirms your story. To be absolutely sure it is not true, contact the Musee Rodin in Paris.