The first thing that you notice as you enter the Rodin Museum, the gracious 18th century "hotel particulare" once home to Auguste Rodin, is the beauty of the setting.
This is not your typical museum. The sweeping, iron-banistered staircase in the foyer, the delicately carved wood paneling, the circular sitting room overlooking the manicured, formal rose garden allow a glimpse at what life was like for the French 19th century gentry.
Rodin's Work
...and then there's the art. Simple. Powerful. Moving. Displayed without adornment in these lovely rooms, Rodin’s art is allowed to speak for itself. Small clay studies for larger works, life-size white marble figures, terra cotta busts, as well as paintings from Rodin’s famous, Impressionist friends fill this must-see museum. Masterpieces, such as "The Kiss," "The Gates of Hell," and "The Thinker" compete with lesser known works, but all are lovely and moving.
The Garden
Don’t leave without a stroll among the roses and bronze casts in the gardens behind the house. The Rodin Museum is a powerful showcase of a great artist’s work and a peaceful oasis in a bustling city.
Visting the Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum is located in Paris' seventh arrondissement (district) near Les Invalides, the site of Napoleon's tomb. The museum is open during the winter (October - March) from 930am to 445pm and in the summer (April - September) from 930am to 545pm. Admission is 6 Euros (2007 rates).
The Rodin Museum is easily accessible via the Paris Metro system (stops Varenne, Invalides, St.-Francois-Xavier).
Contact Information
Musee Rodin, 79 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris France, Telephone: 01 44 18 61 10
