Bringing Sculpture to Life!

I was first introduced to the works of Auguste Rodin on television. It was not an arts appreciation program on PBS, but the Dobie Gillis Show. For non baby boomers, Dobie was a college student and narrator of the comedy show. His pose as he introduces the program was that of “The Thinker”, Rodin’s most famous and recognizable sculpture.
Auguste Rodin was born in France in 1840 and he had a hard time learning to read and write because he was very nearsighted. He showed great promise as an artist. He loved making drawings of famous sculpture and paintings and because of his poor eyesight, he would stand as close as he could to his favorite works and draw for hours. At the age of 15, he was given his first piece of clay to sculpt and from this point onward, he was hooked on sculpture. Rodin’s sculptures were thought to be ugly and in fact, because they were so life like, he was accused of using molds to cast his figures instead of using live models.
Jules E. Mastbaum, Philadelphia's great movie theater magnate and one of its best-known philanthropists, founded the Rodin Museum to ”enrich the lives of his fellow citizens.” He began collecting the works of Rodin in 1923 and assembled a complete view, acquiring not only finished bronzes, but plaster studies as well as drawings, prints, letters, and books. By the time of his death in 1926, Mastbaum had brought together the greatest Rodin collection outside of Paris
The Rodin Museum, which opened to the public in 1929, houses 124 sculptures, including bronze casts of the artist's greatest works: The Thinker, perhaps the most famous sculpture in the world; The Burghers of Calais, his most heroic and moving historical tribute. As you walk up the stairs to the interior of the museum, The Gates of Hell, an unfinished work which menaces you and almost stops you from entering.
Over 60,000 visitors annually make the trip to see this spectacular Museum and the gardens, which surround it. The gardens are supposed to heighten an appreciation of the works of art. I was disappointed with the gardens because the walkway was of gravel; there were no flowers, but an ample amount of trees. There is supposed to be a reflecting pool, which is to evoke calm and echoes the cool beauty that one will experience within the building. The fountain was not working and seemed to need repair. This was in such contrast to the interior of the building and to the sister museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Arts.
You could get very close to the sculptures and take all of the pictures that your heart desired. It was well worth the suggested admission price of $3.00
I found a video that is hilarious. It is a compilation of dancers on "Soul Train", whose theme music was played by TSOP or The Sound of Philadelphia. That sound was very popular during the 70s and check out the shoes - platforms! Oh yes, try to find Rosie Perez.