Hand of Adam at The Rodin Museum, Paris

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In 1881, Rodin secured a commission from the Ministry of Fine Arts for two enormous figures of Adam and Eve. He proposed situating them on either side of The Gates of Hell, possibly inspired by the arrangement of Michelangelo's Slaves flanking the door from the Palazzo Stanga in the Louvre. For Adam, he very likely reused an existing work, since he exhibited the statue at the Salon of 1881 under the name The Creation of Man. Both the title and the pose of this large-scale figure reveal the immense influence of Michelangelo's works, particularly his celebrated painting of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512). The well-developed musculature of Rodin's Adam suggests great physical strength, while the bizarre pose brings to mind a tormented being. Pointing his finger towards the ground, Rodin's Adam emphasizes his earthly bonds, whereas Michelangelo depicts man at the moment when God confers the divine spark of life upon him. Full sculpture of Adam here This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. Through this initiative, 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 wish to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.