Auguste Rodin

"Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects Vol 1" by Giorgio Vasari is a seminal work that explores the lives and contributions of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. This collection not only chronicles their artistic achievements but also delves into their personal stories, providing a rich context for their creative expressions. Hearing Vasari's insights today allows us to appreciate the enduring impact of these artists on contemporary culture and the timeless themes of creativity, ambition, and the quest for beauty. Vasari's vivid portrayals invite listeners to reflect on the nature of artistic genius and the legacies that continue to inspire generations.

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Rodin has pronounced Rilke's essay the supreme interpretation of his work. (From the translators’ Preface) Auguste Rodin, 1840-1917, was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past. He was schooled traditionally, took a craftsman-like approach to his work, and desired academic recognition, although he was never accepted into Paris's foremost school of art. Sculpturally, Rodin possessed a unique ability to model a complex, turbulent, deeply pocketed surface in clay. … Rodin… modeled the human body with realism, and celebrated individual character and physicality. From the unexpected realism of his first major figure… to the unconventional memorials whose commissions he later sought, Rodin's reputation grew, such that he became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. By 1900, he was a world-renowned artist. Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, "widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets", writing in both verse and highly lyrical prose. Several critics have described Rilke's work as inherently "mystical"…. [Rilke’s] encounter with modernism was very stimulating: Rilke became deeply involved in the sculpture of Rodin, and then with the work of Paul Cézanne. For a time he acted as Rodin's secretary, also lecturing and writing a long essay on Rodin and his work. Rodin taught him the value of objective observation… - Summary by Wikipedia and Translators' Preface

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