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Auguste Rodin (French, 1840-1917), Auguste Rodin (French, 1840-1917), Three Faunesses, 1896 (cast 1959), bronze, 9 1/4 x 11 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches, Lent by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
Exhibition
Aug 17, 2016
throughDec 04, 2016

Rodin, The Human Experience: Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections

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On view August 17 through December 4, 2016, in the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art, Rodin, The Human Experience: Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections features thirty-two bronze sculptures by French artist Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) examining the artist’s fascination with the human figure and the body in motion. Included are selections representing some of Rodin’s most famous works illustrating both the evolution of the artist and of his craft. The exhibition commemorates the centennial anniversary of the sculptor’s death in 1917.

Recognized as the first truly modern sculptor, Rodin rejected the traditional representation of the figure and focused instead on subjective depictions of the human form that were emotionally intense, highly expressive, and full of motion. His work revolutionized the way sculpture was conceived and created, which led to more modern interpretations of form and content.

Rodin created the molds for his sculptures and employed dozens of master craftsmen who used the molds to make the final piece of art in stone, metal, or bronze. The molds meant his pieces could be replicated and even recreated in different sizes. Having that freedom allowed the artist to have his work on view in multiple museums across Europe and other countries. It also enabled him to sell smaller scale sculptures to art collectors. 

Highlights of the exhibition include Saint John the Baptist Preaching, Monumental Torso of the Walking Man which is an homage to Michelangelo, studies for the monuments to Balzac and for The Burghers of Calais, and works from his masterpiece The Gates of Hell.

About the exhibition

Collectors Iris and B. Gerald Cantor have helped preserve Rodin’s collection of original models and have advanced knowledge of his studio techniques. For more than thirty-five years, the Cantor Foundation has made its Rodin collection — once the largest outside the Musée Rodin in Paris — available to the public through its traveling exhibition and research programs.

The exhibition has been organized and made possible by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, and was curated by Judith Sobol, Executive Director of the Foundation. The exhibition is presented in cooperation with the University’s Office of International Education and the Media Resource Center, Boatwright Memorial Library, and several academic departments in the School of Arts and Sciences, including the Departments of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Art and Art History, and Theatre and Dance. At the University Museums, the exhibition and related programs are made possible in part with the support of the University’s Cultural Affairs Committee and funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund.

Programming

Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
6 p.m., Piano Duet and Lecture, Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Center for the Arts
Piano duet by Joanne Kong, Director of Accompaniment and Coordinator of Chamber Ensembles, and Paul Hanson, Instructor, Department of Music, University of Richmond
“Experiencing Rodin” Judith Sobol, Executive Director, Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Reception and viewing of the exhibition Rodin, The Human Experience: Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections
Harnett Museum of Art, University Museums, Modlin Center for the Arts

Thursday, August 25, 2016, 11-11:30 a.m.
Exhibition Walk-Through, Harnett Museum of Art, Modlin Center for the Arts
Judith Sobol, Executive Director, Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation

Friday, September 9, 3 p.m., and 7 p.m., and Sunday, September 11, 7 p.m.
Film screening, Ukrop Auditorium, Robins School of Business
"Camille Claude"l (1988)
Introduction on Friday, September 9, 3 p.m., by Sara Pappas, Associate Professor of French and Visual Studies, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, University of Richmond
Co-sponsored by the University Museums, University of Richmond’s Media Resource Center, Boatwright Memorial Library, and The Office of International Education, University of Richmond

Friday, September 23, 2016, 2 to 4 p.m.
Bronze Pour Demonstration, Art Yard, Modlin Center for the Arts
Mark Rhodes, Associate Professor of Art, and Nathan Hansen-Hilliard, Studio Lab Manager, Department of Art and Art History
Event is subject to weather conditions

Sunday, September 25, 2016, 2 to 3:45 p.m.
Exhibition Walk-Through and Tea Reception, Harnett Museum of Art, Modlin Center for the Arts
“Rodin. Emotion. Bathos.” Dr. Mitchell Merling, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museums of Fine Arts, Richmond

Sunday, October 16, 2016, 1 to 3 p.m.
Family Arts Day Celebration, University Museums and Modlin Center for the Arts
Join us for a FREE! arts-centered family fun day with the exhibition Rodin, The Human Experience: Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections, hands-on art activities, refreshments, and a Rodin inspired dance duet performance at 1:30 p.m. with Assistant Professors Alicia Diaz and Matthew Thornton (Department of Theatre and Dance, University of Richmond) and Museum Story Time at 2 p.m.
Performance, 3 p.m., Alice Jepson Theatre, featuring Public State Theatre of Scotland and The Man Who Planted Trees (paid tickets required for performance, for information: modlin.richmond.edu)

Rodin, The Human Experience: Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections

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