Cybele

myminifactory

Rodin's groundbreaking sculpture was first showcased in its own right, rather than as an incomplete study. The piece drew inspiration from damaged classical works and unfinished Michelangelo masterpieces, which Rodin had studied at the Louvre and in Italy. These fragmentary figures played a pivotal role in shaping 20th-century sculpture. Originally conceived for The Gates of Hell, a smaller version of the figure was later enlarged into a plaster model exhibited as "une figure" at the 1905 Salon. It's believed that Rodin's trusted assistant, Henri Le Bossé, crafted this particular bronze casting, which remains the only one made during Rodin's lifetime. Commissioned for an exhibition of contemporary French art at Grosvenor House in London in 1914, the sculpture was renamed Cybele, after the ancient Greek goddess of the earth. The model who posed for the piece was Adèle Abruzzesi, an Italian woman whom Rodin admired. His colleagues referred to this figure and a related one as Abruzzesi Seated and Abruzzesi Reclining. Gallery location: Sculpture, Room 21, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, case FS This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative, a non-profit project created by MyMiniFactory to build a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe. Anyone can contribute to this open-source community effort by emailing stw@myminifactory.com. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London