Jean-Baptiste Rodin

7 Pages 1628 Words

On November 12, 1840, Auguste Rodin was born into a modest family who resided in Paris. Rodin’s father was an office employee; his name was Jean-Baptiste Rodin. Marie Chefter, his mother, was especially religious, as was his father. Rodin’s family were very close, through love and religion. He was the younger of two children. His sister who was about two years older than him became a nun, but soon after, she past away due to a short illness. He was very close to her, her death upset him so much he went into the Monastery of the Eudistes. Rodin only lasted five or six months before he decided to go home.
As a young man his parents stressed education, they sent him off to Beauvais. This school was founded by his Uncle and Rodin stayed with him until the ripe old age of fourteen. Everyone noticed the incredible talent this boy had, his drawing were so good his father put him into a drawing and mathematics school known as “little school.” It was for young talented children. At this school he a teacher by the name of Lecocq de Boisbaudram, who created a system for drawing by training the memory. Some of Boisbaudrams other students included Fantin-Latour, Cazin, Legros, Lhermitte, Dalou, and Chaplain. Rodin had also said Fort, another professor at the school had a great impact on him and his work. He went to Gobelins School where other teacher, Lucas was said to have left an impression on him. As Rodin grew up he consulted a sculptor named Maindron who encouraged him to apply to Ecole des Beaux-Art. He was rejected three times (which gives a lot of hope to young artist today.)
To make money Rodin had to get a job. He did many things that struggling sculptors would do, such as moulder, ornamenter, and goldsmith. All of these jobs gave him valuable experience he would use in the future sculpting.
Around this time was when Rodins sister became sick and he went into the monastery. Five months later he left and shortly after that h...