Monument to Victor Hugo at The Musée Rodin, Paris

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After Victor Hugo's death in 1885, a monumental tribute was planned in his honor within the Pantheon, paired with Injalbert's statue of Mirabeau. Rodin secured the commission in 1889 and decided to capture Victor Hugo in exile, seated among Guernsey's rugged rocks, his arm outstretched as if calming turbulent waves. This image conveyed both a poet lost in contemplation and a champion of the Republican cause. Rodin's initial project, however, lacked clarity, with its silhouette being indistinct. It was unanimously rejected. In 1891, the Ministry of Fine Arts identified an alternative site for the monument, which eventually found its place in the Palais-Royal gardens. Consequently, Rodin worked simultaneously on two projects from 1890 onwards: one featuring a seated Victor Hugo and the other depicting him standing at the Pantheon. The latter was also a nude portrait, devoid of the typical artifice or idealization seen in statues of great men. The figure Rodin crafted reflected Victor Hugo's advancing years, which came as a shock to his contemporaries. The plaster version of Seated Victor Hugo was showcased at the 1897 Paris Salon alongside two of its inspirational muses: The Tragic Muse and Meditation or The Inner Voice. These last-mentioned works had initially accompanied Victor Hugo in early sketches but were eventually excluded from the final marble rendition. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks worldwide for public access. 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 learn how you can help.