Jundt Galleries

Rodin: Truth Form Life / Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections

Download the Rodin exhibit invitation.

Dates: September 8, 2018 through January 5, 2019
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Saturday; closed for University holidays.
Holidays Closed: Oct. 20-22, Nov. 21-25, Dec. 22-25, Dec. 29, 2018 & Jan. 1, 2019

Exhibitions and events are FREE and open to the public.

By the early 20^th century, Auguste Rodin was regarded by many as the greatest sculptor since Michelangelo. Rejecting 19th-century academic traditions that dictated what was “proper” in art, Rodin used sculpture made from hard marble and bronze to convey the vitality of the human spirit. His vigorous modeling emphasized his personal response to the subject, and he conveyed movement and emotion by inventing new poses and gestures. This special, traveling exhibition, organized and made possible by the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, presents 22 of Rodin's important bronzes modeled between 1860 and 1910, plus three bronzes by Rodin in the permanent collection of the Jundt Art Museum.

This exhibition is supported in part by a Spokane Arts Grant Award.

The prohibitive cost of high profile, national traveling exhibitions makes them an unusual catch for Spokane. This special collection, organized by the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, presents 22 of Rodin's most important bronzes modeled between 1860 and 1910. The SAGA selection panel would not miss the opportunity to assist in bringing this work to the region.

Learn more about the Spokane Arts Grant Award.

Bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, modeled in plaster circa 1876

Ixelles Idyll

From 1871 until 1877, Rodin lived in Brussels, Belgium. He was at the beginning of his career, and he went there to work on architectural sculpture for a number of buildings, including the Bourse (stock exchange), the music conservatory, and the Palais-Royal at the Palais des Académies. He and another sculptor established a partnership and studio in the village of Ixelles, a pleasant suburb of Brussels. The sculptures they made were for revival-style buildings, and were largely Rococo in inspiration and allegorical in meaning.

Ixelles Idyll is named to commemorate the location of its making. Rodin also made a marble version of this piece.

Bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, modeled circa 1886

Final Head of Eustache de St. Pierre

Related in the Chroniques by Jean Froissart (about 1335–1400), the history of the siege of Calais in 1347, during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, was well-known in France during Rodin’s time. For 100 days, the English king besieged the French city of Calais, effectively starving its residents. From his encampment outside the city, the king offered to lift the siege if a group of residents brought him the keys to the gates of the medieval city. Once he had the keys, he would put the key-bearers to death and spare the town.

Bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1882

Despairing Adolescent

The sinuous lines of the arms stretching upward, the reverse S curve that starts at the youth’s lower hand and crosses his chest to work its way down the right side of his body, and the head leaning backward so as not to interrupt the formal importance of those arms—all of these demonstrate Rodin’s ability to use naturalism in service of expression.

Bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1885–86

Jean D’Aire, Second Maquette

This version of Jean d'Aire exists because of Rodin's working method: a figure was first modeled nude so the sculptor could be sure the entire body expressed the sought-after emotion. Only when Rodin was sure of the expressiveness of the nude would he cover the figure with clothing. This nude Jean d'Aire, one of The Burghers of Calais, is emaciated and thus conveys the deprivation of his starving city. He is also stolid and determined, expressing courage and resolve in the face of death.

Jean d'Aire holds a cushion on which lie the keys to the city, their surrender being one of the demands of the English king.

About

Academics

Admission

Student Life

Athletics

Info For

Gonzaga Home