The Rodin Museum is a facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This museum is dedicated to the works of celebrated French sculptor Auguste Rodin. While Rodin was best known for his marble and bronze sculptures, the Rodin Museum also houses other works by the artist, including paintings, sketches, and historical artifacts. This facility is managed by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is located just down the road, making it easy for visitors to tour both of these attractions in one day.
During the early 20th century, Philadelphia businessman Jules Mastbaum made it his personal goal to assemble a large collection of Rodin's work, then donate these pieces to the city of Philadelphia. It took Mastbaum just three years to build the largest collection of Rodin creations in the world, outside of France. He gifted these pieces to the city, then hired a pair of architects to design a museum to house the collection. Though Mastbaum died in 1926, his dream was realized in 1929 when the Rodin Museum opened its doors to the public.
The Rodin Museum consists of a temple-like building designed in the French neoclassical style. It houses many of the non-sculptural works, such as paintings and sketches. Most of the sculptures at the Rodin Museum are displayed outdoors in the adjacent garden. Visitors will find more than 100 sculptures in the garden arranged among beautiful plant life and a central reflecting pool.
In the outdoor garden at the Rodin Museum, visitors can view one of Rodin's best-known works, The Thinker. This piece was designed in 1882, and features a man sitting with his head resting is his hand as he explores his inner thoughts. The Rodin Museum also includes the Burghers of Calais, a popular tribute to the people of Calais, France for their efforts during the Hundred Years War. Both of Rodin's most sensual works, including Eternal Sunshine and The Kiss, can be found at the museum. One of the more popular exhibits is The Gates of Hell, which Rodin spent more than 37 years perfecting.
The Rodin Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, and closed on Mondays. Admission is free, though there is a suggested donation for visitors. Special tours are available, and guests can purchase Rodin-related items at the museum's gift shop. Art lovers or tourists to the area may wish to combine a trip to the Rodin Museum with a visit to the much larger Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is nearby.
