Rodin Museum

The Musée Rodin, located in the elegant Hôtel Biron at 77 rue de Varenne, is one of the most fascinating museums in Paris. This splendid rococo building from the 18th century, surrounded by a charming French garden, provides an ideal setting for the works of the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The museum, inaugurated in 1919, is the result of the donation that Rodin himself made to the French state in 1916, including not only his sculptures, but also his drawings, photographs, letters, and a collection of antiquities. Rodin discovered the Hôtel Biron in 1908, when the building was in a state of abandonment. Fascinated by its beauty, he began by renting some rooms on the ground floor and then occupied the entire building starting in 1911. The museum now houses the largest collection of Rodin’s works, including masterpieces such as “The Thinker,” “The Kiss,” “The Burghers of Calais,” and “The Gates of Hell.” These works are displayed to benefit from the natural light filtering through the large windows, creating light effects that change with the seasons and times of day. The visit to the museum begins in the Cantor Room, characterized by a monumental staircase, and winds through eighteen rooms that illustrate Rodin’s artistic evolution. Each room is dedicated to a different aspect of his work, from his early career to his later masterpieces. In these rooms, visitors can admire clay sketches, plaster models, and bronze and marble sculptures that testify to the artist’s creative process. Among the works on display, “The Age of Bronze” occupies a prominent position in a round room, while “The Kiss,” with its sensuality, is one of the most admired pieces by visitors. The museum also dedicates a room to the works of Camille Claudel, a talented sculptor and student of Rodin, with whom she had an intense artistic and personal relationship. Her sculptures, displayed in room 16, highlight the importance of their bond and their mutual influence. In addition to Rodin’s works, the museum houses a vast collection of antiquities collected by the artist himself, which testify to his love for classical art and his search for inspiration in the masterpieces of the past. These pieces are displayed alongside his sculptures, creating a dialogue between ancient and modern that enriches the visitors’ experience. The garden of the Musée Rodin is another jewel of the museum. Spread over three hectares, it is dotted with some of Rodin’s most famous sculptures, such as “The Thinker” and “The Gates of Hell.” This green space, with its flower beds, ancient trees, and shaded avenues, offers an oasis of peace in the heart of Paris, where visitors can stroll and reflect on the works of art immersed in nature. The museum’s library is an important resource for scholars and art enthusiasts. It collects a vast documentation on the life and work of Rodin, including letters, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and a collection of vintage books and magazines. This documentary heritage provides a valuable contribution to understanding the historical, social, and artistic context in which Rodin operated.