Jean d'Aire Nude Study at The Musée Rodin, Paris

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Jean d'Aire stands among the 6 Burghers of Calais. Rodin envisioned these burghers as ordinary men rather than noble heroes, weary from the siege and confronting death in their own unique way. Jean d'Aire's gaunt frame is visible through his shirt's sides, showcasing squared shoulders, massive clenched fists, and a jawline set with determination. His bony face and sunken eyes reveal the true cost of his sacrifice. In this model, he serves as an anatomical study for Rodin. In 1347, nearly a year after Edward III of England began to besiege Calais, the city surrendered. The King agreed that six leading citizens should be handed over for execution to save the town from destruction. Auguste Rodin depicts these sacrificial victims in "The Burghers of Calais" - figures clothed in sackcloth with ropes around their necks, marching towards the English camp. Rodin's heroes are not portrayed in grandiose poses but rather caught in mid-gesture, reflecting the struggles of starving men facing death. Eustache de Saint Pierre bends forward; Jean d'Aire holds a massive key to the city, his legs spread apart and head held high in defiance; Andrieu d'Andres clutches his head in despair. Rodin wanted the figures to be anchored to the paving stones, allowing passersby to draw inspiration from them as they brush past. In September 1884, Rodin was commissioned by the mayor of Calais to create a monument and had completed a maquette by November 1884. The original plan was to depict only one burgher, Eustache de Saint Pierre, but Rodin's maquette showed all six. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort - if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how to help.