Monumental Bust of Victor Hugo
European Art
On View:
In 1889 the French government commissioned Rodin to produce a monument to the author Victor Hugo (1802–1885). The sculptor’s first proposal was rejected in 1890, but another was accepted a year later. Rodin worked on the project sporadically during the following decade, but diminishing interest on the part of both the sculptor and the government agencies overseeing the work meant it remained unfinished at his death in 1917. The ultimate monument was intended to be colossal, and this bust seems consistent with that scale.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
1902; cast 1970
DIMENSIONS
28 1/2 x 23 3/8 x 21 1/2 in. (72.4 x 59.4 x 54.6 cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
Back, proper right shoulder: ".Georges Rudier./.Fondeur. Paris."
Back, lower edge, proper left shoulder: "© by Musée Rodin. 1970."
SIGNATURE
Lower edge, proper left: "A. Rodin"
Interior, back, lower edge, raised stamp: "A. Rodin"
ACCESSION NUMBER
84.210.3
CREDIT LINE
Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Monumental Bust of Victor Hugo, 1902; cast 1970. Bronze, 28 1/2 x 23 3/8 x 21 1/2 in. (72.4 x 59.4 x 54.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 84.210.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 84.210.3_transp6249.jpg)
EDITION
Edition: 6/12
IMAGE
overall, 84.210.3_transp6249.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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Was this cast accepted or rejected?
This work was part of the accepted proposal for Rodin's sculpture as it was made in 1902, after his proposal had been accepted and he could work through it more!
Thanks!