Dernier Soupier

1890s–1900s

Young sculptors in Rodin's studio

His income let him hire gifted young sculptors, among them Antoine Bourdelle, Charles Despiau, Jules Desbois, François Pompon and Aristide Maillol. Constantin Brancusi left after two months, convinced that nothing grows under a big tree.

1900

Rodin's pavilion at the World's Fair

The French government gave him an entire pavilion: a retrospective of 136 sculptures and 14 unfinished works showed “The Gates of Hell” for the first time. The exhibition brought sales of sculptures to museums around the world worth about 200,000 francs.

1900

Meets Isadora Duncan

In 1900 Rodin met the American dancer Isadora Duncan, and the next year he made sketches of her and her students.

1900s

Portraits of the famous and the rich

Rodin began to receive regular commissions for portraits; his clients included Bernard Shaw, Gustav Mahler, Georges Clemenceau, the Argentine president Sarmiento, the chemist Berthelot and the philanthropist Bertha Palmer. Clemenceau was displeased: he thought the portrait looked like a “Mongol general”.

1903

Succeeds Whistler as head of the International Society

After the death of James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Rodin was elected president of the International Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers, largely thanks to Albert Ludovici.

20 mei 1903 · Onderscheiding

Commander of the Legion of Honour