Musee Picasso and Musee Rodin – First Sunday!

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month and you know what that means – FREE museums! We visited the Picasso and Rodin museums which are both smaller than and not as overwhelming as the Louvre. That was a nice change of pace for us.

PICASSO (1881-1973). Born in Spain, Pablo Picasso first came to Paris in 1900 and spent most of his life in Paris and the south of France. In 1968, France created a law that allowed heirs to pay inheritance taxes with works of art instead of money, as long as the art is considered an important contribution to the French cultural heritage. The Picasso Museum was opened in 1985 with artwork coming from Picasso's heritage paid to the French state as duties collected after his death in 1973. Picasso once said "I am the greatest collector of Picassos in the world." The Picasso Museum now contains more than 3000 different works of art including his own paintings, sculpture, lithographs, drawings and ceramics as well as some of his private collection by his favorite artists. I guess they don’t let you take pictures in the museum, but here are the two I was able to snap (for you, my loyal readers) before I got in trouble!

RODIN (1840-1917). Auguste Rodin was a famous French sculptor, one of the most renowned of his time. Rodin’s most famous work of art is the bronze and marble sculpture known as “The Thinker” which was completed in 1902. This sculpture is a very recognizable and iconic symbol of intellect and philosophy. The original sculpture sits in the garden at the Rodin Museum in Paris; however there are twenty other versions of the statue throughout Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

Rodin’s other famous works include “The Kiss” and the unfinished “Gates of Hell.” Rodin worked on the “Gates of Hell” for almost 40 years, beginning in 1880 and up until is death in 1917, after he was commissioned to create a portal for a museum that ended up never being built. The sculpture includes over 180 figures, many of which Rodin later enlarged and became works of their own. Standing over 19 feet high, its unfinished form is on display in the garden of the Rodin Museum, flanked on either side by a statue of Adam and Eve.

“The Thinker” or “Le Penseur” (AKA “The Poet”)

"The Whistler Muse"

Me and Ryne looking at the map trying to decide what to see next

"The Three Shades"

"The Gates of Hell" - over 19 feet tall

Unfortunately we were only able to tour the garden of the museum and didn’t make it inside. Ryne was getting fussy and in need of a nap. But, that’s one of the perks of First Sunday…it’s free, so no money wasted there! Plus, it was such a nice day that it was nice to be outside!