The Thinker

1877–1878

Accused of casting “The Age of Bronze” from life

The figure looked so lifelike that Rodin was accused of casting it from a live model. He wrote to the newspapers, produced photographs of the model and demanded an inquiry, and a committee of sculptors cleared him; later many of his works were deliberately made larger or smaller than life.

1878

Defeat in the competition for a monument to the defenders of Paris

The winged allegorical figure now known as “The Call to Arms” failed to impress the jury and did not even reach the shortlist. His entries for monuments to Carnot, Diderot and Rousseau also failed; only a monument to d'Alembert for the façade of the Hôtel de Ville came his way.

1880

Receives the commission for “The Gates of Hell”

His first state commission was a sculptural portal for a planned Museum of Decorative Arts; with it Rodin received two studios on the Rue de l'Université. The museum was never built and “The Gates of Hell” remained unfinished: they were first cast in bronze after the master's death.

1880

The 1880 Salon: third prize

Rodin showed “St. John the Baptist”, which won third prize. In the same Salon “The Age of Bronze” was exhibited a second time, now cast in bronze.

c. 1880 – 1881

Juliette Adam's salon and first recognition

Rodin was received at the salon of the writer Juliette Adam, where he was presented to Gambetta; Gambetta recommended him to Antonin Proust, the minister of fine arts, who bought “St. John the Baptist” for the state. It was the first recognition to reach a sculptor who was already forty.

1881

London: meeting William Ernest Henley

Rodin's friend Alphonse Legros introduced him in London to the poet William Ernest Henley, who did more than anyone to win him a British audience. Through Henley Rodin met Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Browning.