Head of Pierre de Wissant | MSK Gent
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Head of Pierre de Wissant, ca. 1908

  • gypsum
  • 83 x 54.7 x 48 cm
  • Inv. 1909-PPP-1

Public Domain

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This head is a monumental version of one of the Citizens of Calais, the sculpture group on which Auguste Rodin worked from 1884 to 1895. The theme is derived from a historical event in the 14th century: some prominent citizens sacrifice themselves to save their town from the English siege. For Rodin, the theme is the occasion to experiment with expressive poses and facial expressions in a group of seven male figures. Rodin reproduces the heads of the citizens in separate versions and also in this so-called tête colossale of one of the citizens, Pierre de Wissant. When the museum opened, the City of Ghent wanted to buy a copy of the Burgers of Calais. This proved too expensive, but eventually the city purchased the original plaster cast along with a version in bronze (Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent, inv. 1909-PPP-2).

Artist

Auguste Rodin RKD
Paris 1840 - Meudon 1917
sculptorsAAT

Title Head of Pierre de Wissant
Date ca. 1908
Period 20th century
Location France TGN
Signatures, inscriptions, and markings signatures (names) at the left: A RODIN
Collection sculpture AAT
Object type gypsum AAT
Inventory number 1909-PPP-1
Acquisition credit purchase
salon
Ghent
1909
Current whereabouts Work on display
Permalink https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1909-PPP-1
IIIF Manifest https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/482/manifest.json
Art & Architecture Thesaurus 300033898 history paintings AAT
Keywords Iconclass 31A2422 head turned to the right Iconclass
31A71 male sex; man Iconclass
31B6217 eyes closed Iconclass
31B6232 mouth slightly open Iconclass
31D14 adult man Iconclass
41C1191 starvation, famine Iconclass
45K siege, position war Iconclass
45K4 capture of city (after the siege) Iconclass
61B2(EDWARD III) historical person (EDWARD III) Iconclass
61B2(PIERRE DE WISSANT) historical person (PIERRE DE WISSANT) Iconclass
61BB2(PHILIPPA OF HAINAUT) historical person (PHILIPPA OF HAINAUT) - BB - woman Iconclass
61E(CALAIS) names of cities and villages (CALAIS) Iconclass
61I(SIEGE OF CALAIS) names of historical events and situations (SIEGE OF CALAIS) Iconclass
61I(THE HUNDRED YEAR'S WAR) names of historical events and situations (THE HUNDRED YEAR'S WAR) Iconclass
School / Style Impressionist (style) AAT
De vrienden van Scribe : De Europese smaak van een Gents mecenas (tentoonstelling Gent, Museum voor Schone Kunsten, 12 december 1998 - 14 maart 1999) / Monique Tahon-Vanroose, Robert Hoozee. - Gent : Snoeck-Ducaju & Zoon, 1998 ; Antwerpen : Pandora, 1998 (p. 9, 106 (ill.), 107, 203 (ill.))
200 jaar verzamelen : Collectieboek Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent / Arnout Balis, Robert Hoozee, Maximiliaan P.J. Martens, Paul Van Haute. - Gent : Ludion, 2000 (p. 271 (ill. 89))
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