The Kiss Marble Version

Le baiser is an 1882 marble sculpture by the french sculptor auguste rodin the embracing nude couple depicted in the sculpture appeared originally as part of a group of reliefs decorating rodin s monumental bronze portal the gates of hell commissioned for a planned museum of art in paris the couple were later removed from the gates and replaced with another pair of lovers.

The kiss marble version.

The kiss by auguste rodin. Warren sale lewes house lewes 24. This sculpture is flat but looks realistic because of it relief and shadows. N06228 le baiser the kiss 1901 4.

One side is normal the other bright. That piece is now on display at the musée rodin in paris. The kiss depicts the fateful embrace of francesca and paolo adulterous lovers from dante s inferno. Rodin r side of base pentelican marble 71 x 48 x 60 182 x 102 x 153 purchased from mrs tremlett grant in aid with the aid of the nacf and public contributions 1953 prov.

Romantic and magical the kiss is one of the most famous and evocative statues by auguste rodin. Not until 1898 did he agree to exhibit what he called his huge knick knack as a companion piece to his audacious balzac as if the kiss would make it easier for the public to accept his portrait of the writer. Recreated in beautiful hand carved marble by stone icons. Now for the first time this full sized version.

Until now there were only three full sized hand carved marble statues of the kiss in the world. Rodin developed the theme of the kiss in plaster and terracotta before creating a marble version for the french government in 1888. Before creating the marble version of the kiss rodin produced several smaller sculptures in plaster terracotta and bronze. The french state commissioned an enlarged version in marble which rodin took nearly ten years to deliver.