The Man with the Broken Nose

1862

Death of his sister Maria

His elder sister Maria died of peritonitis in a convent; Rodin was tormented by guilt, having introduced her to an unfaithful suitor, and turned away from art.

1862–1863

A novice under Peter Julian Eymard

Rodin entered the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament as a lay brother. Its founder, Peter Julian Eymard, saw a sculptor in him and persuaded him to return to art, offering the order's garden shed as a studio.

1863

Classes with Antoine-Louis Barye

Back at work as a decorator, Rodin began taking classes with the animal sculptor Barye. The teacher's attention to detail and his finely rendered musculature of animals in motion strongly influenced him.

1864

Begins to live with Rose Beuret

Rodin met the seamstress Rose Beuret and began living with her; she remained his companion for the rest of his life and posed for several of his early busts.

1864–1870

In the studio of Albert Carrier-Belleuse

Rodin joined the studio of Carrier-Belleuse, a successful mass producer of objets d'art, and until 1870 was his chief assistant, designing roof decorations and staircase and doorway ornament.

1866

Birth of his son Auguste

Rodin and Rose Beuret had a son, Auguste; the couple were not married, so the boy took his mother's surname.