The Tempest
carved before 1910
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 13 5/8 x 14 7/8 x 7 3/4 in., 73lb. (34.6 x 37.8 x 19.7 cm, 33.1126kg); Footprint of sculpture (confirmed): 14 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (36.8 x 16.5 cm); Length of rod mount: 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Thomas F. Ryan, 1910
Accession Number
11.173.7
Tags
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,...
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...