Pierre de Wiessant, Reduction (Pierre de Wissant, réduction)
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
Rodin began to issue reductions of the burghers (all but Jacques de Wiessant) at the same time as The Burghers of Calais was unveiled, suggesting that he anticipated the popularity of figures derived from his monument.
Caption
Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Pierre de Wiessant, Reduction (Pierre de Wissant, réduction), 1895 or 1899; cast before 1952. Bronze, 17 7/8 x 8 3/4 x 8 in. (45.4 x 22.2 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 84.210.8. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Cast by
Title
Pierre de Wiessant, Reduction (Pierre de Wissant, réduction)
Date
1895 or 1899; cast before 1952
Geography
Place made: France
Medium
Bronze
Classification
Dimensions
17 7/8 x 8 3/4 x 8 in. (45.4 x 22.2 x 20.3 cm)
Signatures
Near proper left foot: "A. Rodin" Raised stamp inside lower edge by proper left foot: "M./A. Rodin"
Markings
Back, lower edge of base, behind proper right foot: "ALEXIS RUDIER/FONDEUR. PARIS."
Credit Line
Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
Accession Number
84.210.8
Frequent Art Questions
Tell me more.
This small sculpture shows one of the Burghers of Calais, Pierre de Weissant. Weissant was the fourth burgher to sacrifice himself to the English in exchange for an end to the siege on his city. Rodin or someone in his workshop would have used a pointing device called a Collas Machine to create this reduced version.Is this made of bronze? What prevents it from rusting?
It is indeed made of bronze. Rather than rust, bronze develops a patina on the surface. This is a chemical reaction to oxygen that changes the color of the surface.Oh thank you!What is plaster?
Plaster is a paste typically made from lime or gypsum, water and sand. At first it is liquid and can be cast in a mold which quickly hardens.Sculptors often use plaster to make copies or molds of their clay art. In Rodin's case, these plaster molds were then filled with bronze to make the final sculptures.Rodin made several versions of the Burgers of Calais, including smaller copies such as the one you see here.Interesting! I have learned so much!Did Rodin create this miniature sculpture from a Burgher before the taller one?
This is a reduced version of the final (larger) sculpture, so, in this case, the larger one was created first. Nearby there is another small figure made in 1885. That one was a Maquette (study) produced before the large monument.Like most sculptors of his day, Rodin produced reductions of his sculptures. He never limited the number of casts produced in his lifetime (after his death, the French state started to number and restrict casts).
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