An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
The Age of Bronze1875–76
Auguste Rodin
Rodin’s earliest surviving life-size sculpture,<em> The Age of Bronze</em> is an enigmatic and provocative image of a man awakening to new consciousness. The figure originally held a spear in one hand; by removing the weapon, Rodin stripped the sculpture of narrative symbols and focused on the sensuality and psychological power of the male nude. Contemporaries found the figure so realistic they falsely accused Rodin of making a cast from a living person. Museum trustee Ralph King commissioned this cast from the artist in 1916 with the intention of donating it to the museum. Rodin personally supervised the exceptionally fine casting and finished it with his favorite patina, a deep reddish tone he called “crushed grape.”
The sculpture suggests the heroism and suffering of his countrymen during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. This life-sized male figure was modeled after a Belgium soldier named August Neyt.
bronze
with base: 182.2 x 66.4 x 47 cm (71 3/4 x 26 1/8 x 18 1/2 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph King
In the hushed chambers of artistic history, one sculpture quietly stands apart—Rodin’s first surviving life-size creation, known as *The Age of Bronze*. Imagine a figure, a man, frozen in a moment of awakening, as if he were discovering the intricacies of life for the very first time. His stance is poised, his body a testament to the raw sensuality and psychological depth that only the human form can convey.
Once upon a time, this stirring figure held a spear, a symbol of conflict and narrative. But Rodin, in a striking act of artistic courage, removed this weapon, leaving behind nothing but the essence of the man himself. Stripped of storytelling, the sculpture instead invites us to engage with its profound, contemplative presence. It's as if the figure reached deep within to unearth a truth, one that resonates across time—a human awakening that feels both intimate and universal.
As Rodin presented this creation to the world, whispers of disbelief filled the air. His contemporaries were so taken by the lifelike quality of the sculpture that they accused him of casting it from a living subject, a claim born from sheer astonishment. The artistry was that powerful, that real; the boundaries between art and life seemed to blur into nothingness.
In 1916, museum trustee Ralph King, captivated by Rodin's genius, commissioned a cast of this masterpiece with an intention pure in spirit: to gift it to the museum, ensuring that its impact would continue to inspire future generations. Rodin did not leave this process to chance. He personally oversaw the delicate casting, infusing every inch of the sculpture with his passion and unrivaled skill. The final touch was a patina he cherished deeply—a rich, deep reddish hue he affectionately referred to as “crushed grape.”
With every glance at *The Age of Bronze*, one can sense the heartbeat of art history, a vivid reminder of our own awakening journeys—a tranquil invitation to explore the myriad forms of existence we share, each nuanced by the stories that bind us all.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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