The Tempest

Art Historical Context

Auguste Rodin's *The Tempest*, carved in marble before 1910 captures the raw emotional intensity for which the French sculptor is renowned. at 13⅝ × 14⅞ × 7¾ inches and weighing 73 pounds, this compact yet powerful sculpture belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, gifted by Thomas F. Ryan in1910. Rodin, a pioneer of modern sculpture associated with Impressionist influences, often drew from literary and mythological themes; the title evokes stormy passion, hinted at through its focus on expressive female faces, as suggested by its tags. Marble, a medium rooted in classical antiquity, takes on revolutionary life in Rodin's hands. He rejected polished perfection for textured, unfinished surfaces that mimic the flux of nature and human emotion, making *The Tempest* a bridge between tradition and modernism. This technique allowed him to convey movement and turmoil in static stone, aligning with his broader oeuvre like *The Thinker* or *The Gates of Hell*. Acquired early in Rodin's posthumous American acclaim, the work highlights his global impact. Visitors to the Met can appreciate how *The Tempest* embodies the sculptor's belief in art's power to reveal the soul's hidden tempests, inviting contemplation of beauty amid chaos.

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...