THINKER RODIN Marble Statue Sculpture Figurine Europe

The Rodin Museum, Paris, 1881 A.D.

Of all the works by Rodin, the most famous one is unquestionably the great Thinker.  The Thinker was the first work by Rodin to be erected in a public place.

The Thinker was modeled in 1880 – 1882 as part of a commission by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris to sculpt a monumental door based on The Divine Comedy of Dante called The Gates of Hell.

Each of the statues in the piece represented one of the main characters in the epic poem.

The Thinker was exhibited in its original size (H. 71.5 cm) in Copenhagen in 1888. It was enlarged in 1902 and exhibited in this form at the Salon of 1904 where it aroused strong reactions from the press during a period of intense political and social crises which turned this sculpture into a socialist symbol.

In 1922, using as a pretext that the statue created an obstacle during ceremonies, it was transported, with its pedestal, to the garden of the Hôtel Biron which had by then become the Rodin Museum. Another example was placed over the tomb of Rodin in Meudon.

Initially named the The Poet, The Thinker statue was intended to represent Dante himself at the top of the door reflecting on the scene below.

However, we can speculate that Rodin thought of the figure in broader, more universal terms. The Thinker is depicted as a man in sober meditation battling with a powerful internal struggle.

The unique pose with hand to the chin, right elbow to the left knee, and crouching position allows the statue to survey the work with a contemplative feel.

It is made from cultured marble and has many intricate details.

Dimensions: 7" H

Weight: 3 lbs.

# T-004B

HISTORY OF ART REPRODUCTIONS
The history of art reproductions takes us back to Imperial Rome where bronze and marble reproductions of Greek masterpieces served as decoration for lavish Roman villas and gardens.

The art of casting is thousands of years old: terracottas, bronzes and ancient glass were cast from molds.

Closer to our time in the mid-18th century coinciding with the search for new artistic styles which took inspiration from the roots of classic art (neoclassicism) and the discovery of Herculaneum in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748, archaeological reproductions reappeared all over Europe.

As a result of French expeditions to Egypt during the nineteenth century, a casting facility was set up next to the Louvre Museum where many important archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt were reproduced.

Following the example of the Louvre, other leading European museums began to reproduce some of the masterpieces in their collections thus initiating a trend that continues until today.

OUR WORK
For the making of art reproductions, our company has chosen masterpieces from the best museums all over the world–The Louvre, The British Museum, The National Museum of Athens, The Egyptian Museum at Cairo, The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc.

Working to obtain very fine pieces, up to the last detail,we only use materials and techniques that can achieve the best quality in reproducing original works of art.

Our sculptures are cast in a variety of mediums –bonded stone, polyresins, bronze, etc. 

The finish of each reproduction, always hand-made and showing craftsmanship and historical sense, is the work of an artisan.

It is the task of our company to present to the people of today the legacy of those ancient civilizations with all the beauty and mystery of our ancestors, again in front of our eyes and at the reach of our hands.

(see linked pictures above)