George Wyndham

myminifactory

Rodin made a trip to England in 1881 at the behest of French painter and etcher Alphonse Legros. This marked the beginning of a highly successful career in England where he encountered several leading personalities from London. George Wyndham (1863-1913) had a distinguished military career, was also an accomplished writer, and was widely admired for his refined elegance. He served as Secretary of State for War and then Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1900 to 1905. Rodin became acquainted with him through poet and critic William E. Henley, friend of sculptor John Tweed, one of his most ardent supporters in England. In 1901, Rodin is known to have given Wyndham a tour of his studio, and in 1902 George Wyndham presided over the banquet at the Café Royal in London to celebrate the presentation of the cast of St John the Baptist to V&A. Later, in 1912, Rodin asked Wyndham to support his preferred way of displaying The Burghers of Calais in London. For this bust, Rodin was supposed to travel to Ireland, but it was actually Wyndham who went to Meudon instead. Sittings began in 1904 and were thoroughly enjoyed by Wyndham, who wrote to his sister, 'We have traversed the entire Universe lightly yet profoundly'. When Wyndham saw the finished plaster cast, he was delighted and remarked: 'It is indeed a portrait, one of the most striking. It is so true and alive that looking at the throat one expects to see the bust swallow. But it is more than that, much more. It is a man at 40 years of age…in mid career, with his regrets, his worries, his force, his hopes, his drive'. Gallery location:Sculpture, Room 21, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, case WN This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access at no charge. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can assist. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London