Collection

The Sirens (Les Sirènes)

Auguste Rodin

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

The sirens are the part-bird, part-woman characters of Greek mythology whose enchanting songs lured unwary sailors to their deaths in Homer’s Odyssey. Rodin considered their tale of deception and death an appropriate subject for The Gates of Hell, where they appear in the left panel.

Caption

Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). The Sirens (Les Sirènes), 1880s, cast 1967. Bronze, 17 × 17 1/4 × 12 5/8 in., 45.5 lb. (43.2 × 43.8 × 32.1 cm, 20.64kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 86.87.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

The Sirens (Les Sirènes)

Date

1880s, cast 1967

Geography

Place made: France

Medium

Bronze

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

17 × 17 1/4 × 12 5/8 in., 45.5 lb. (43.2 × 43.8 × 32.1 cm, 20.64kg)

Signatures

Below the knees of the middle figure: "A. Rodin"; Interior, front of base, raised cachet: "A. Rodin"

Markings

Back of base to the right: ".Georges Rudier. Fondeur. Paris." Proper left edge: "© by Musée Rodin 1967"

Credit Line

Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation

Accession Number

86.87.1

Frequent Art Questions

  • what is this?

    This is a statue showing us sirens, part-bird and part-woman creatures from Greek mythology.
    In this case, Rodin is preparing imagery for his larger work, The Gates of Hell. These mythological figures, known for luring some of Odysseus's crew to their deaths, were, in Rodin's eyes, a perfect match for the subject matter in The Gates of Hell.
    At least five marble versions of this sculpture were also produced in Rodin's studio.

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Artists and makers

Auguste Rodin

75 works in the collection

Georges Rudier Fondeur, Paris

25 works in the collection