Sculpture Collection

Auguste Rodin

Jean d'Aire from The Burghers of Calais (1884-95), reduction

French, 1840-1917
Jean d'Aire, reduction
from The Burghers of Calais (1884-95)
1895 or 1899
bronze
1971.11

17 3/4 x 6 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches

Rodin signed an agreement with the Monument Committee of Calais to make a statue commemorating the Burghers of Calais on Jan. 28, 1885, although he had begun individual figure studies for the group the year before. The final model was completed in 1888, and the work was dedicated June 3, 1895.

The artist depicted the Burghers as they left Calais to surrender to Edward III, according to the conditions imposed by him as prerequisites for lifting the eleven-month siege of the city.

 - From the catalogue, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. David Lloyd Kreeger, Editor Margy P. Sharpe, 1976.