Michel Ange / Rodin
Corps vivants
A legendary Florentine sculptor and painter of the Renaissance, Michelangelo is an artist whose legend began to take shape during his lifetime. Nicknamed “Il Divino” (The Divine One), he notably created the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel in Rome and the sculpture of David in Florence.
Auguste Rodin, one of the greatest French sculptors, was also recognized during his lifetime with iconic works such as The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. By prioritizing expression, movement, and the truth of the body rather than idealized perfection, he paved the way for modern sculpture.
Bringing out the soul, infusing vital energy, is what guided the research of Michelangelo and Rodin. Their goal was to give life to inert matter: marble for Michelangelo, clay and plaster for Rodin. Both artists, who shared a passion for anatomy, sometimes distorted bodies to accentuate inner emotions. With his powerful figures, imbued with intense life, Michelangelo sought to breathe a soul into marble. Rodin, on the other hand, abolished the realistic aspect of the bodies, focusing instead on their vitality.
The presence of contemporary works in the exhibition testifies to the enduring relevance of the questions posed by these two masters. Their research continues to inspire contemporary artists and even the use of certain practices, such as non finito: the aesthetics of the unfinished. Michelangelo left behind numerous unfinished works. Was this intentional, or did he simply not pursue his creative vision to its fullest extent? In contrast, Rodin made non finito a fundamental principle of creation.
The exhibition continues outdoors with the flowering of the Tuileries garden inspired by the works of Michelangelo and Rodin.