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| The Thinker at the Musée Rodin in Paris |
The Thinker, Auguste Rodin’s most famous work is undoubtedly the most recognized sculpture the world over. Full size bronze casts of the original sculpture displayed in front of the Musée Rodin in Paris, France are found in more than 30 locations around the world, including Asia, Europe and the United States. The one that is at the University of Louisville in Kentucky is special since this is the first bronze cast made from the original. Various plaster casts and study-size casts of The Thinker are seen in global locations as well.
The massive sculpture stands, or should we say sits at a height of six feet and six inches. With the intentionally massive arms and shoulders given to the sculpture piece, when fully erect, The Thinker would be a colossal figure that would tower over men.
The story behind its creation
The sculpture was originally part of a commissioned work by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs of Paris in 1880. The plan was to create the museum’s door that would depict The Gates of Hell from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Its original piece only measured 71.5 centimeters or 28.1 inches and named The Poet. The now-famous sculpture sat on the tympanum of the portal, contemplating the Inferno with 180 individual figures below. The sculpture of The Thinker was envisioned to represent poetry and intellect as well as Dante himself.
The Thinker was first cast in 1904, although Rodin worked on the whole Gates of Hell portal for 37 years.
