Lot 931 Dα

Es handelt sich bei dem Exemplar nach den archivalischen Unterlagen des Museums um einen 1958 entstandenen und in den deutschen Kunsthandel vermittelten postumen Guß von Georges Rudier. - Bekannt ist darüber hinaus die ältere Auflage der von Alexis Rudier gegossenen "Bürger von Calais" (reduzierte Fassung) in jeweils 12 Exemplaren. (reduzierte Gipsfassung mit Widmung an Loie Fuller) "Around the turn of the century, Rodin decided to cast reductions of five of the six Burghers of Calais. [...] the curious exclusion from this series of the sixth burgher, Jacques de Wiessant, has been explained as Rodin's desire to prevent the reassembling of all six figures in this reduced scale. [...] Whether or not Rodin identified each of these figures with specific personalities is uncertain, but the names typically assigned them are helpful for discussion. [...] Jean d'Aire, one of the most popular burghers, is usually identified as the man holding the key. Rodin's son, Auguste Beuret, is said to have posed for the head of this figure, and in it the sloping and jutting Rodin forehead is easily recognizable. This figure steels himself against his inevitable fate; his determined erectness is reflected in the vertical folds of his garment. The monkish robe, with cowllike folds resting on his shoulders, gives him the appearance of a Christan martyr, bravely facing the trial to come." (de Caso/Sanders 1977, op. cit., S. 215)