RODIN THE
HAND COLLECTION
RODIN THE
HAND COLLECTION
Cover: The Hand of Shade 13” h x 6” w x 8” d with out the base Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25”
ORIGINAL RODIN STUDIO PLASTER Dr. Parker is the past president of two public companies (NASDAQ), a former professor of psychology and past owner of many galleries in the United States and Europe. He is the chairman of the International Sculpture Institute. Ron is happily married to an artist, Yvonne, with whom he lives in Pennsylvania and Florida.
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THE RODIN HAND COLLECTION Ronald K. Parker, Ph.D.
MAISON DE RODIN
Maison de Rodin is the publisher of The Rodin Hand Collection. Maison de Rodin was established by a French art lover,Valere Lamblot, to locate authentic plasters of Rodin’s sculptures and cast them in limited edition bronzes. The authenticity of the plasters has been certified by Comite Rodin ( Jerome Le Blay) and the fine art bronzes are each accompanied by Certificates of Authenticity signed by Alan Beausire, the archivist of the Rodin Museum. Additionally, the plaster’s authenticity has been certified by Francois Privat, a legal expert who has been utilized by the Rodin Museum and other national museums in France. INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE INSTITUTE Making The Rodin Hand Collection available to collectors is the exclusive responsibility of the International Sculpture Institute (ISI). This entity was created to facilitate the worldwide distribution of Rodin sculptures which form the twenty-six piece Maison de Rodin Collection. The founders of the ISI are art collectors who previously owned numerous galleries in America and Europe.
THE RODIN HAND COLLECTION
Not since Michelangelo has there been a sculptor so skilled, so innovative and so revered as August Rodin (1840-1917). According to Albert Elsen, “Rodin’s greatest gift to modern sculptors was his partial figures….” These works were the most dramatic demonstrations of the difference between a traditional concept of a finished sculpture and the new model of artistic completeness. “After 1900 to exhibit a torso by itself was to signal that the sculpture was a modern artist” (Elsen). Rodin always believed that he could make the human hand as expressive as the face. “No previous sculptor is known to have made as many studies of the hand, considering them not only in connection with arms but self sufficient as works of art to be exhibited and sold” as such (Elsen p. 583). The Rodin Hand Collection presents six fine art bronze sculptures in various sizes and shapes. Each image is cast in a limited edition of only eighty-eight. The time-consuming and costly lost wax casting process is used to make each of these sculptures. 5
RODIN’S HAND HOLDING TORSO 6 ” h x 10” w x 4” d .25
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HANDS OF PIERRE WISSANT
s a final testimony to the importance of the creating hand, Rodin accepted, shortly before his death, that his hand be cast holding a small seated female torso devoid of head, arms and legs below the thighs.
LEFT HAND (facing page)
10.5” h x 7.75” w x 5”d with out the base. Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25”
Rodin frequently carried this torso in his pocket. He was often seen touching it and enjoying its tactile qualities. As a small sample of Rodin’s work, his associates were awed at the powerful expression that could come from a small fragment representing the female nude.
RIGHT HAND
12” h x 7” w x 7.25” d with out the base. Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25”
The composition is evocative of the artist examining an object from all sides, capturing all the effects of light playing on the surface and thinking about how he could still alter it.
How blessed we are today that eighty-eight collectors will be able to own a life casting of the actual hand of the genius that created some of the most important sculptures in the world.
“Here is a torso...broken and incomplete. It is so true to life, however, that one does not need the missing parts for it to be alive.” Ronald K. Parker 7
RIGHT HAND OF PIERRE WISSANT
12” h x 7” w x 7.25” d with out the base. Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25”
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LEFT HAND OF PIERRE WISSANT
While Rodin’s hands were always faithful to the details of the anatomy, the Wissant hands seem to be more than anatomically correct. These hands have a lyrical expressiveness, a spiritual quality of transcending mere form, and an aesthetic beauty beyond compare.
10.5” h x 7.75” w x 5” d with out the base. Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25”
The Maison de Rodin has chosen to offer the Wissant hands in two versions---horizontal or mounted on bases. In looking at the hands horizontally, the long, elegant hands of a pianist come to mind: hands frozen while playing a beautiful composition (Indeed, one perfect placement for these hands in your home is on the piano.)
Mounted on striated marble bases, one is able to turn each hand to enjoy its visual/sculptural strengths from multiple viewing perspectives. It is also exciting to move one hand in relationship to the other. Many joint compositions are possible and the “dance” of the pairing of the hands is endless. To really enjoy these pieces, place them as the centerpiece of your formal dining room table for a pure visual delight. At a dinner party, your good taste will be showcased and the quality of the conversation is always elevated, at some point, to art.
“Rodin’s hands were a gestural sign language that caused him to give considerable thought to the exact placement and expressiveness of each digit. Many of his hands were made to be shown by themselves as complete works of art. His well-made hands were beautiful and expressive by themselves.” Albert E. Elsen 9
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odin’s hands were either created individually or taken directly from another figure. One of the figures in Rodin’s famous Burghers of Calais was Pierre de Wissant. Rodin loved these hands so much that he cast them in bronze as finished works of art.
SMALL CLENCHED HAND 5 ” h x 4 ” w x 2 ” d with out the base. Base size 3” x 3” x 1 ” .25
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his sculpture is important psychologically and physically.
As Rodin’s THINKER is the universal symbol for reflective thinking, this sculpture represents the universal plea for help. While there have been many psychological interpretations of this piece, the one that has been most enduring is that the Small Clenched Hand represents a plea for HELP.
Over one billion people do not have their daily basic needs met. Humanity cries daily for help for water, food and shelter. So every time we see this symbol for HELP, we are reminded of our duty to help those who are less fortunate. Physically, the importance of HELP as a sculpture is that it embodies all that connoisseurs look for in a great sculpture. First, it has flow, energy and movement; second, it is strong from multiple viewing perspectives (Rodin wrote that “one can only understand my work if you examine them from all possible angles.”); and, third, the quality of the modeling is superb. The modeling reveals a small hand (5.25” plus base) slightly arched back with its fingers well spread out, notably the thumb which stands apart from the palm. Truly, it is a small masterpiece.
“There are among the works of Rodin hands, single, small hands which, without belonging to the body, are alive” Rainer Maria Rilke 11
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he shape of various hands fascinated Rodin and he modeled many of them to study as independent forms in space. He often experimented with different hands on the same figure to explore a wide range of expressive possibilities. This approach clearly illustrates Rodin’s interest in fragments. To him, the pure form of a hand was not dependent on a larger whole to convey meaning.
MAIN DROITE (RIGHT HAND)
10” h x 5.5” w x 5.5” d with out the base. Base size 5.75” x 5.75” x 1.25” 12
Rodin’s hands express a divine simplicity of emotions. They pray and they bless. They plead and they provide. They caress and they grasp. He said, “An artist must apply himself to giving as much expression to a hand or a torso as to a face”. Viewing the Main Droite is a visual pleasure. It is relaxed as it gently caresses the air, captured in midflight. While firmly anchored, it reaches upward signaling freedom and hope. This hand is exquisitely modeled, carefully balanced, and, truly, a thing of beauty. And, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
“Rodin’s hand études had parity with finished sculptures because the well-made part was an artistic whole.” Albert E. Elsen 13
THE HAND OF SHADE 13” h x 6” w x 8” d with out the base. Base size 5 ” x 5 ” x 1 ” .75
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odin originally sculpted Shade as a variation on a theme of Adam which was to be a part of his most famous work of art—The Gates of Hell. Spending over 40 years of his life sculpting this masterpiece, Rodin decided to make the “crown” of the gates three identical Shades, posed in a semi-circle. The Gates of Hell were never cast in bronze during his lifetime.
The Three Shades (Les trios ombres) were also called The Three Phantoms by Rodin as a reference to Dante’s Inferno. The present hand in The Maison de Rodin Collection is the left hand of the enlarged Shade completed sometime around 1903. The hand is open with the forefinger lightly extended. It was Rodin’s imagination that gave this sculpture the sensitive arrangement of the wrist and the hand, the subtle movement of the fingers and the perfect composition of the parts to the whole. Rodin, however, left it to the viewer’s imagination to interpret what he/she saw. The excellence of Rodin’s modeling “in the round” and the harmonious arrangement of the fingers makes this one of his most important and expressive sculptures. For full and complete enjoyment of this beautiful hand, study it carefully under different lighting conditions. The play of light and the effects of light and shadow will have a transforming effect on the sculpture. Indeed, you will see new things each time you visit The Hand of Shade.
“Discoveries and the development of archeology in the 19th century had already instilled a strong liking in art lovers and artists for ‘pieces’ or fragmented works.” Alan Beausire 15
“The Rodin Hand Collection” is one of the best conservative investments available today. And, it is beautiful.” Robert L. Wallstreet
Wealth Management Advisor United Bank of Switzerland
Ronald K. Parker, Ph.D. Chairman International Sculpture Institute 205 Worth Avenue Palm Beach, FL 33480 phone 561 804 9199 ronparker@ltis.net internationalsculptureinstitute.com
Beausire, Alan RODIN: ETERNAL BEAUTY, Maison de Rodin Press, Paris, 2010 Elsen, Albert E. RODIN’S ART, Oxford University Press, 2003 Photography by Robert Farber
Design by Géza Czavar
© International Sculpture Institute 2010