Study for "The Secret"
n.d.
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall without base: 11.43 × 6.03 × 6.35 cm (4 1/2 × 2 3/8 × 2 1/2 in.) base: 6.51 × 6.03 × 6.35 cm (2 9/16 × 2 3/8 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Anthony T. Podesta, Washington DC)
Accession Number
2015.19.3946
Art Historical Context
Auguste Rodin, the pioneering French sculptor (1840–1917), revolutionized sculpture in the late 19th century by infusing bronze and marble with raw emotional intensity and a sense of movement reminiscent of Impressionist painting. *Study for "The Secret"* (n.d.) is a intimate bronze maquette, standing just 11.43 cm tall, capturing two figures huddled in whispered confidence. This preparatory work hints at Rodin's fascination with human intimacy and hidden passions, themes that permeate his oeuvre, from *The Kiss* to *The Gates of Hell*. Cast in bronze—a medium Rodin mastered for its durabilit...
About the Artist
Auguste Rodin · 1840–1917
François Auguste René Rodin (1840-1917) stands as the founder of modern sculpture, transforming the art form from academic tradition into expressive modernism. Born into a working-class Parisian family, Rodin faced early rejection, failing three times to gain admission to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. This setback forced him to work as a craftsman for nearly two decades, though his 1875 tr...