Auguste Rodin -
Bronze Cast 189 X 98 X 140 cm
Since Rodin's death in 1917, the Monumental version has been cast 50+ times and can be seen across Asia, Europe and the Americas
Rodin chose Dante's Inferno as his inspiration for the gates
In 1880 Rodin is commissioned to create the Gates of Hell, a work that is eventually cancelled and only cast after Rodin dies
After the Gates of Hell was cancelled, Rodin reworked figure into a small standalone "The Thinker' statue in 1888
Michelangelo's "Thinker" sculpture of Lorenzo Medici is seen as a possible inspiration to Rodin for "The Poet"
Between 1888 and 1900 Rodin focuses on a sculpture of Poet Balzac, which is rejected, and only cast after Rodin dies
In 1900, after a 10-year pause, Rodin returns to The Thinker, using a Collas Machine enlarge it a larger (Balzac sized) statue
The larger version of The Thinker is exhibited in 1904 at the Salon and purchased by the French Government.
Rodin created a further 9 casts of the thinker during his lifetime - and left the rights to cast this statue to France
Rodin put Dante,"The Poet" at the centre of the Gates of Hell, embodying every artist, looking over his creation.
Bronze Cast 270 X 120 X 128 cm
Bronze Cast 6 X 4 X 1 meter