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World - renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin was born François - Auguste René Rodin on November 12, 1840, in Paris, France, to father Jean - Baptiste Rodin and mother Marie Cheffer. He had one sibling, a sister two years his senior, Maria.

Auguste Rodin image

Due to poor vision, Rodin was greatly distressed at a young age. Attending the Petite École, he was unable - to see figures drawn on the blackboard and, subsequently, struggled to follow complicated lessons written on the blackboard, usually in his math and science courses.

Unaware of his imperfect eyesight, a dejected Rodin found comfort in drawing pictures - an activity that allowed Rodin to see his progress as he practiced, as well as clearly see the drawing paper in front of him (he was nearsighted). Soon, Rodin was drawing frequently, wherever he could, and whatever he saw or imagined.

By age 13, Rodin had developed obvious skills as an artist, and soon began taking formal art courses While completing his studies, however, the aspiring young artist began to doubt himself, receiving little validation or encouragement from his instructors and fellow students. Four years later, at age 17, Rodin applied to attend the Ecole des Beaux - Arts, prestigious art school in Paris. He was gravely disappointed when the school denied him admission and deeply saddened when his application was rejected twice thereafter.

Dejected and desperate to earn a living, in the late 1850s, Rodin began working as a decorative bricklayer.

Auguste Rodin Picture

Sculpturally, Rodin possessed a unique ability to model a complex, turbulent, deeply pocketed surface in clay. Many of his most notable sculptures were roundly criticized during his lifetime. They clashed with the predominant figure sculpture tradition, in which works were decorative, formulaic, or highly thematic. Rodin ' s most original work departed from traditional themes of mythology and allegory modeled the human body with realism, and celebrated individual character and physicality. Rodin was sensitive to the surrounding his work, put refused to change his style. Successive works brought increasing favor from the government and the artistic community.

From the unexpected realism of his first major figure - inspired by his 1875 trip to Italy - to the unconventional memorials whose commissions he later sought, Rodin ' s reputation grew, such that he became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. By 1900, he was a world - renowned artist.

Wealthy private clients sought Rodin's work after his World's Fair exhibit, and he kept company with a variety of high - profile intellectuals and artists. He married his lifelong companion, Rose Beuret, in the last year of both their lives. His sculptures suffered a decline in popularity after his death in 1917, but within a few decades, his legacy solidified. Rodin remains one of the few sculptors widely known outside the visual arts community.

Photo Gallery of Auguste Rodin