Auguste Rodin, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Kiss
by Auguste Rodin, 1882
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- 1882
- Medium
- Marble
- Size
- 181.5 cm × 112.5 cm × 117 cm
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Auguste Rodin sculpted The Kiss between 1881 and 1882, originally as part of The Gates of Hell. The work depicts Paolo and Francesca, the ill-fated lovers from Dante's Inferno who were murdered by Francesca's husband after he discovered their affair. They had fallen in love while reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together.
Rodin eventually removed the couple from the gates, finding their image of blissful happiness unsuited to the tormented theme. The French government commissioned the first large-scale marble version in 1888 for the Exposition Universelle, though it was first publicly displayed in 1898. The sculpture measures 181.5 centimeters in height and is now housed at the Musée Rodin in Paris. The work's sensual naturalism and emotional intimacy made it one of Rodin's most beloved creations.
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About The Kiss
The sculpture shows Paolo and Francesca, 13th-century Italian lovers from Dante's Inferno. They fell in love while reading about Lancelot and Guinevere, and were killed by Francesca's husband. Rodin originally designed them for The Gates of Hell.
The first large-scale marble version is displayed at the Musée Rodin in Paris. Another marble version is held at the Tate Britain in London, and bronze casts exist in museums worldwide.
The sculpture measures 181.5 cm in height, 112.5 cm in width, and 117 cm in depth. Rodin also authorized smaller bronze reproductions through the Barbedienne foundry.
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