The Burghers of Calais
After Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917)
Bronze, signed "A. Rodin" on base
24 × 24 × 15.5 in.
This bronze depicts one of Auguste Rodin’s most celebrated masterpieces, The Burghers of Calais, originally commissioned in 1884 by the city of Calais, France, to commemorate a defining moment of the Hundred Years’ War. In 1347, six leading citizens of Calais volunteered to surrender themselves to King Edward III of England in exchange for sparing their city. Rodin portrayed them not as triumphant heroes, but as ordinary men—exhausted, anguished, and resigned—emphasizing the psychological burden of sacrifice.
Auguste Rodin is often regarded as the father of modern sculpture. Rejecting the idealized forms of academic tradition, he embraced realism, expressive movement, and emotional intensity. His works, including The Thinker and The Kiss, revolutionized the art of sculpture and influenced generations of artists worldwide. Casts of The Burghers of Calais stand in major museums and public spaces across the globe, with reductions like this example extending its resonance to collectors.
