Rodin Museum
USA, Filadelfiya (Pensilvaniya)

The Rodin Museum in Philadelphia is a major repository of works by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It holds the largest collection of Rodin's works outside of France, a distinction it shares with the Musée Rodin in Paris. The museum's establishment is credited to the philanthropist and movie theater magnate Jules E. Mastbaum, who began collecting Rodin's art in 1923 with the intention of founding a museum dedicated to the artist for the benefit of the public.


The museum building and its formal garden were designed by the French architects Paul Cret and Jacques Gréber, creating a harmonious setting that evokes the ambiance of Rodin's own museum in Paris. The collection was officially presented to the City of Philadelphia and opened to the public in 1929. The institution is administered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is situated at the opposite end of the Parkway, forming a significant cultural corridor.


The core of the museum's holdings consists of the comprehensive collection assembled by Jules Mastbaum. It includes bronze casts, marbles, plaster studies, drawings, prints, and letters. Among the most celebrated works are bronze casts of Rodin's monumental pieces, such as The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Burghers of Calais. These works represent key milestones in Rodin's career and in the development of modern sculpture.


The museum underwent a significant, multi-year restoration that was completed in 2012. This project meticulously returned the building, its skylit galleries, and the surrounding garden to their original 1929 appearance, while also incorporating necessary modern climate control and accessibility features. The restoration revitalized the visitor experience, allowing the architecture and the artworks to be viewed as an integrated whole as originally intended.


As a key component of Philadelphia's cultural landscape, the Rodin Museum serves an important educational role. It provides a focused examination of Rodin's innovative techniques and his profound influence on subsequent generations of artists. The museum's location and its deep collection make it an essential destination for understanding the global impact of Auguste Rodin's artistic legacy.

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Rodin Museum