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Andromeda (Andromède)

European Art

According to Greek mythology, Andromeda’s mother boasted that her daughter was more beautiful than the attendants of the sea god Poseidon. Enraged, Poseidon had Andromeda chained to a rock, where Perseus, the son of Zeus, saved her before a sea monster could devour her.

This bent, twisted figure appears to convey the fable’s moment of greatest psychological torment, but in fact the sculpture was unnamed when it was first exhibited. This has led some scholars to believe it simply represents a position taken by a model at rest in the studio that inspired Rodin, who only later gave it that title.

Andromeda has not been located anywhere in The Gates of Hell, but her dejected appearance would have been highly appropriate there.
MEDIUM Bronze
  • Place Made: France
  • DATES 1887; cast 1979
    DIMENSIONS 10 1/2 × 12 3/4 × 8 in., 20.5 lb. (26.7 × 32.4 × 20.3 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS Lower edge of rocky base, side without face: ".Georges Rudier./.Fondeur. Paris." Lower edge of side with buttocks: " © by Musée Rodin 1979."
    SIGNATURE Base, side with face: "A. Rodin" Interior of rocky base, applied as raised stamp: "A. Rodin"
    INSCRIPTIONS Base, side with face: "No 10"
    COLLECTIONS European Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 84.77.1
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Andromeda (Andromède), 1887; cast 1979. Bronze, 10 1/2 × 12 3/4 × 8 in., 20.5 lb. (26.7 × 32.4 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor, 84.77.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 84.77.1_bw_SL3.jpg)
    EDITION Edition: 10/12
    IMAGE overall, 84.77.1_bw_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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