About this artwork
This statue is a part of the famous sculptural group The Burghers of Calais, made by Auguste Rodin to commemorate a tragic episode from the 14th century, during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England. Rodin depicted the moment when six courageous men offered them-selves as hostages to Edward III, the king of England, in exchange for the liberation of the city of Calais from a siege that had been starving inhabitants for nearly a year. This plaster statue (painted to simulate bronze) was exhibited in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, and entered the Art Institute’s collection that year.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 200
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Department
- Painting and Sculpture of Europe
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Artist
- Auguste Rodin
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Title
- A Burgher of Calais (Jean d'Aire)
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Place
- France (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- Modeled 1889
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Medium
- Plaster
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Dimensions
- 208.3 × 66 cm (82 × 26 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Addie M. Hall Ellis
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Reference Number
- 1893.187
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/719/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
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