
The Thinker
Auguste Rodin
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Auguste Rodin
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Since Rodin's death in 1917, the Monumental version has been cast 50+ times and can be seen across Asia, Europe and the Americas
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.