Home of the largest collection outside Paris of works by Rodin..
The Scene
Commuters drive by Rodin's "The Thinker" without giving much thought to what lies behind. It's not surprising--the neoclassical temple to sculptor Auguste Rodin is a masterpiece
of understatement. Enter through "The Gates of Hell": gigantic doors adorned with a bronze cast of Rodin's unfinished masterpiece. A Michelangelo-esque grouping of more than 200 figures, the "Gates" offer a foretaste of the impassioned, spontaneous sculpture within.
The Collection
The largest collection of works by Rodin outside Paris, the museum was begun in 1923 by local philanthropist Jules Mastbaum, who amassed a vast cache of bronzes, plaster studies, books, drawings and letters. Now it's owned by the Art Museum, which looks down on it from its lofty perch at the head of the Parkway. You'll find the monumental stuff here--"John the Baptist," "The Cathedral," "The Burghers of Calais"--but also tiny, powerfully erotic plaster figures and brooding photos of the artist by Edward Steichen.…
glad it's open again!. This is one of the best Philadelphia attractions. You can see some amazing sculptures by Rodin, wander around outside, and admire the gates and still have plenty of time to walk around Kelly drive or to Rittenhouse square and have lunch.…
